Artist's Statement
I have always created art, from the early years on my family’s ranch, drawing calves, horses, and landscapes to “eating up” any school art projects in schools that had no art programs, to being the “school artist” during my high school years. I earned a degree in Art and continued to learn from other professionals through classes and workshops, and then began teaching my love of art in high school and college. I gravitated to the fluidity of watercolors for many years, but have painted in many mediums including oil, acrylic, batik, watercolor and silk. I love watercolor, but a few years ago, I decided I’d like to try painting acrylic on black canvases. My thinking was that the colors would be richer and more intense. I was not disappointed! I felt I could achieve a stronger color palette and see color as it really presents itself. I used silver marker to draw my ideas or to outline spaces, or both. This combination created a stylized form of realism and a modern, playful art emerged. It was fun and exciting and generated this series of paintings.
I hope my work creates great joy and emotion in you as it creates in me.