I enjoy the process of bringing a new perspective to my photo subjects, and recapturing those images in another way. I like painting water sky and clouds. I love painting nature.
What I look for is light and color; shapes and lines; composition and balance. Sometimes I hope to bring a fresh take on the subject, or embellish it with color, or simplify it. Perhaps to clear up the noise surrounding it in my photograph; or maybe to evoke a warm feeling for the past. Featured here is my work “Still Standing Overseas Railroad”. This pastel features an abandoned portion of an historic bridge which was built over seven years and completed in 1912. Called the “Overseas Railroad” or “Flagler’s Folly,” it once linked the Florida Keys. I was drawn to the colorful decay and the waters surrounding as well as the shape of the arch and of course, its history.
I was raised in a small farming community in the central lower peninsula of Michigan. After an international career in business and teaching – which allowed me to live in several areas of the US and overseas – I was able to make the time to develop my artistic inclinations. Ever since my first art class as a young teenager, I have experimented in all sorts of media over the years – pottery, glass, fiber, metalwork to name a few. My work today reflects a deep love of travel and taking photographs, which serve as my primary inspiration for painting.
Only recently I began working with watercolors and pastels, and discovering the fascinating challenges both media present. Through course offerings and opportunities available in Door County (including volunteering as a docent at The Hardy Gallery), I continue to develop my skills and personal style.
My husband Jeff and I are seasonal residents of Sister Bay having our primary home in Madison.