Artist Statement: As I spend time outdoors, I am constantly creating art.   Whenever I see colors and textures anywhere that appeal to me, I am arranging them either in my head or on paper.

My inspiration comes from the landscape, its colors, textures and shapes.  I am interested in the way that sunlight enhances and turns the landscape into magical places.  Some of the gardens around Salem such as Deepwood, Bush Park and Martha Springer Gardens are such magical places for me.  The colors of flowers are especially inspiring for me. I like to discover such scenes, to be surprised and delighted by them.  Many of the paintings contain the flowers which bring me such joy.  I work intuitively and quickly.

My paintings are experiments and color is what I see first.  I have worked with different media but my favorite is soft pastel.   Recently, I have discovered and am enjoying using oil and cold wax, as well as collage.   I am experimenting with abstract painting after taking a workshop with Ruth Armitage at the Sitka Art Center on the Oregon coast this past May and June.

I spent many hours outdoors roaming the woods that surrounded our house as I was growing up and love painting woody scenes, trees ad weeds.  I am interested in the texture of paint and the way the strokes of paint and color interplay and affect each other. My favorite lighting is back-lighting, which to me brings the magic out of the scene.