Location: United States
I have been drawing and painting for as long as I can remember. As an only child, I would save my 50¢ a week allowance until I could buy a paint-by-number kit or some other art project to feed my creative spirit. I moved from hand-drawn paper dolls and collages of garden flowers to oil painting, water color, traditional Chinese ink drawing, acrylics, collaging, sculpting and all forms of mixed media. My degree at Central Missouri State University and adjunct professional training led to a lifetime of creating art and a 35-year career as a graphic designer. Since focusing on my fine art several years ago, I have been juried into numerous shows, won multiple awards, and had my work displayed at solo shows, public art displays, galleries, museums, and art shows.
I have always been an intuitive artist. I love to combine various art modalities, which sometimes leads to happy surprises and new ways of seeing life. My passion is to approach my art as a small child. I lay a canvas on the floor and randomly begin to brush, dab, drip, spray and scrape paints, inks and other materials with no particular form in mind. After a few days of exploring the initial abstract, I discover the seed of an image that I liberate from the background. Multiple layers enhance the emerging image, which takes on a life of its own. Often something unintended and subconscious appears, which to me is a testimony to the underlying connectedness of life.
In the spirit of Rassouli’s Fusionart, my art is a combination of East and West, a fusing of various cultures, a communication with nature, a blending of opposites. It is a reflection of what is felt rather than what is seen, and often makes the unseen visible in new ways. What is shown on the canvas is my spiritual and emotional energy fusing with whatever is longing to be expressed. I hope to create something that is alive with energy — something that invites each viewer to connect with life in new and meaningful ways.
I have always been an intuitive artist. I love to combine various art modalities, which sometimes leads to happy surprises and new ways of seeing life. My passion is to approach my art as a small child. When creating paintings on canvas, I lay a canvas on the floor and randomly begin to brush, dab, drip, spray and scrape paints, inks and other materials with no particular form in mind. After a few days of exploring the initial abstract, I discover the seed of an image that I liberate from the background. Multiple layers enhance the emerging image, which takes on a life of its own. When creating digital paintings, I layer my photography with numerous layers of digital painting, resulting in a creation that is unexpected and “new.” Sculptures are also intuitive and multilayered. In all forms of my work, often something other than the visible appears, which to me is a testimony to the underlying connectedness of life.
In the spirit of Rassouli’s Fusionart, my art is often a fusing of various cultures, a communication with nature, a blending of opposites. It is a reflection of what is felt rather than what is seen. What appears in the finished work is my spiritual and emotional energy fusing with whatever is longing to be expressed. I hope to create something that is alive with energy — something that invites viewers to connect with life in new and meaningful ways.
"Masked 1" began as a statement on COVID masking. However, subsequent layers seemed to give the woman's masked face new meaning. In responding to this piece, people identify exhaustion, sadness, frustration, pain, innocence lost, resignation, weariness and wariness… but also a sense of protecting others and commitment (as a medical worker) plus patience, compassion, deep determination, fearlessness, confidence, awareness, a willingness to engage, and hope for tomorrow—perhaps a quintessential hope that one day she may put aside all the masks against illness, difference, and inequality.
Why is she Masked?... because of COVID. Or is it more? It is hard to always speak out, stand up, say what you believe, become vulnerable. Safer sometimes to lean back, blend in and live to face another day.
Forged by fire, this goddess rises triumphant with her crown of golden light. Stronger than before, honed by life’s experiences. Transformation is never easy—and all the more difficult for those who are perceived as “other.”
The worldwide demonstrations following the death of George Floyd and other black Americans have touched me deeply. These events have led me to examine both my white privilege AND what it means to be black in America and have led to a global examination of equality and justice. Watching thousands of multi-aged, multi-racial, multi-cultural demonstrators declare that "Black Lives Matter" has given me renewed hope that we can finally tip the scales toward justice and emerge into a world that fosters understanding for all.
Air is the freedom to take flight, reaching out to touch life’s potential.
In keeping with the times where we are simultaneously dealing with the worldwide COVID pandemic, resulting economic upheaval, political divisiveness, social justice, and more, "Faith in Our Future" represents my belief that humans are resilient and even though transformation is often traumatic, our future is hopeful.
Earth represents grounding and an attunement with mountains, plains, forests, oceans and all that gives us a firm footing to move forward. The Earth Goddess became “Healing Mother Earth.” During this time of “Staying at Home” we have provided a much deserved opportunity for our planet to rest and heal. Perhaps this experience will lead to a greater exploration of ways to ease the global crisis facing us and secure the health of our planet for future generations.
This image, the fourth of the Earth, Air, Fire and Water goddesses, is a mystical mermaid emerging from the deep.
“Masked 1”
“Masked 2”
“Emerging from the Flames”
“Faith In Our Future”
“Healing Mother Earth”
“Mystical Mermaid”
