As an artist, I began using oils, but a fateful drawing trip to France exposed me to pastels. They were so seductive, I put the paints away and bought my first of many, many pastels.
Recently (at long last), I realized how much of my peronal life history has affected how I see life. When I was young, I did competitive ice skating which made me aware of rhythm and how things exist in space. My love of fabrics, color and texture comes froma lifetime of sewing. Then you add in being a serious gardener, both in my own spaces and as a longtime volunteer at the SF Botanical Garden. All these have, in their own way, contributed to how I perceive the world.
My artistic vision has been influenced by particular artists: the lush tactile experience of the Dutch Masters, the cool abstracted forms of Georgio Morandi, the pattern and color that drove Pierre Bonnard, the rigor and tough investigation of Alice Need, and of course, the daring composition and pastel mastery of Degas and Mary Cassatt.
In many ways. an artist is a translator. Our experiences form the basis for what we attempt to present for others to share. My work deals with objects (new to me or old favorites) that I observe in detail. The composition can be formal or seemingly casual - a glimpse captured in passing. The complexity of forms in space, how light defines the relationships between forms, the amazing subtly of color, and the joy of really seeing my world...all of this is what excites me and keeps me going.