Artist Statement

My paintings, inspired by the natural world, are a combination of realistic, impressionistic and abstract elements. The images I create are reflective of the products of evolution, plant and animal life, stones on a beach, planets, stars and galaxies in the expanding universe.

I use a variety of media including acrylic paint, oil-based etching ink for monotyping, watercolor, gouache, pumice, collage elements including paper and found objects. With many of my abstract paintings I emphasize layering for depth and texture to produce a sense of discovery, excitement and movement. My realistic paintings, done primarily with watercolor and gouache, require a gentler hand and a somewhat different mindset. With realism I have a reference point that narrows my focus; my abstract paintings ask for a wider lens and more impulsive moves. In either case a variety of approaches is important to me in this process of exploration. These can be done separately or combined. This combination of approaches keeps things fresh and enhances my creativity.

Creating art allows me a greater appreciation of the complicated wonders of life. Doing it slows me down and helps me focus inwardly on observations I might have otherwise missed in our fast-paced world.

Resume

Solo Exhibitions:
At the Top; Abstraction and Realism; Mill Valley, CA; 2010
The Painters Place; “Celebration of Abstraction: Acrylics and Monotypes”; Larkspur, CA; November, 2006
CFA Gallery; “Sudden, Short and Sweet”; San Anselmo, CA; January, 2006
Green Fusion; “Resplendent Color”; San Anselmo, CA; May, 2004
Foundation Capital; “Four Abstracts”; Menlo Park, CA; 1999 and 2000
New Threads; “All Things Beautiful”; Corte Madera, CA; 1997
Gallery One; “The Nature of Things”; Petaluma, CA; 1997
Showplace Design Center; “The Love of Abstraction”; SF, CA; 1995

Selected Group Exhibitions:
Bartolini Gallery, “Women of Abstraction”, San Rafael, CA, 2023
The de Young Open, San Francisco, CA, 2020
Jay Jay Gallery, Sacramento, CA, 2009-2020
Room Gallery; San Rafael and Mill Valley, CA, 2011-2017
Artworks Downtown; “Large Paintings”; San Rafael, CA, 2009
The Painters Place; Larkspur, CA; December, 2005-09
Donna Seager Gallery; San Rafael, CA; August, 2007-08
CFA Gallery; monotypes of six women artists; San Anselmo, CA; August and September, 2007
CFA Gallery; San Anselmo, CA; 2005
Alameda Art Center; Alameda, CA; August, 2005
CFA Gallery; San Anselmo, CA; 2004
Christopher Hill Gallery; St. Helena, CA; 2002
Sausalito Art Festival; Sausalito, CA; 2002
Sharon Park Gallery; Menlo Park, CA; 2002
Falkirk Mansion; MAC grant winners group exhibition; San Rafael, CA; 2002
HANG Gallery; San Francisco, CA; 1999 and 2000
Triton Museum; Santa Clara, CA; 1997
Marin County Fair; San Rafael, CA; 1997
The Painters Place; Larkspur, CA; 1996

Commissions:
Foundation Capital; four paintings; Menlo Park, CA; 1999 and 2000

Collections:
Kaiser Hospital Corporation; purchase of multiple monotypes; 2006-2013

Awards:
Marin County Fair; Second Place and Honorable Mention; San Rafael, CA; 1997
Marin County Fair; Theme Award, Second Place and Honorable Mention; San Rafael, CA 1994.

Publications:
Marin Magazine; a painting featured in the main article; Sausalito, CA 2005
William-Sonoma Home Catalogue; giclee prints of two monotypes in Spring/Summer catalogue, 2006
Portal Publications; publication of 1998 calendar and cards; Corte Madera, CA; 1997 and 1998

Grants:
Marin Arts Council Individual Artists Grant for Excellence in the Field of Painting/2D. Grant funded through the Buck Foundation; San Rafael, CA; 2002

Education:
Academy of Art, San Francisco, CA 1989 – 1992
University of California Extension & College of Marin, 1984-1986
City College of San Francisco, 1980-1982
UC Berkeley Extension, San Francisco, 1979-1980

download resume (PDF)