My oil paintings are impressionistic florals and landscapes created with a variety of marks and vibrant colors. Frequently I zoom in to my subject so that viewers feel that they could reach in and touch the scene just a few feet away. 

I often paint outdoors where I look for contrasting light, rich color and dynamic compositions in the landscape. I have only two to three hours to paint before the sun’s movement greatly alters the lighting of the scene. A dramatic sky and a changing shoreline also have to be captured quickly. These aspects make painting outdoors exhilarating and challenging. 

For large paintings, I work in my studio where I have the luxury of building a painting over many sessions. My approach in all my work is to start with a clear vision and, as I go along, to be open to ideas that pop up as it evolves. Working this way keeps the act of painting exciting and creates work that I feel is more lively and joyful.

Watercolor was the first medium I fell in love with. Later, oils won me over with their viscosity and vivid color. Now I include methods from both mediums in my paintings. I like the variety of marks these techniques create: drips, thick slabs, crisp edges, and soft shapes. My greatest challenge is keeping a balance between all these delicious marks while still building cohesive shapes that represent reality - even if an impressionistic one. If you look closely at my work, you often will see hints of earlier marks peeking out between the top layers.

The comment I hear most often when people view my work is how joyful my paintings are. In talking with collectors, I have found that they frequently hang my work in treasured spaces in their home. They display them in their bedrooms to be seen upon awakening, in favorite nooks to be enjoyed while they have their coffee, and in the center of their home where they can be seen frequently.