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About

Artist's StATEMENT

Having summered in northern Michigan for most of my life, I have been entranced by the mysterious beauty and light of the Leelanau Peninsula from a very young age. I have found endless inspiration for watercolor landscape painting both in Michigan and in subsequent travels. There is an energy and a joy that come from painting in the landscape – a celebration of life itself.

Inspired by the works of artists Winslow Homer, Fairfield Porter, Edward Hopper, David Hockney, Nell Blaine and Richard Diebenkorn, I have also been exploring large, painterly acrylics and oils of both figures in the landscape and still life in addition to my more traditional watercolors.   

These three photos illustrate how I transform a simple sketch into a vivid painting. I always have my camera with me in order to "capture a moment" when color, composition and, most importantly, light, feel just right through the lens.

I then choose the medium – oil, acrylic or watercolor – that will best evoke the feeling of that particular moment.  In this instance of a ladies' night out, "Let the Summer Begin," I chose to work in acrylics as their bright colors and fast drying time permit a bold approach to a very lively composition.

It is sometimes hard to know when a painting is finished. Trying to capture the "AHA" of a particular moment in time, my recent figurative works have a more focused "center of interest" (in this painting, the figure in red sweater and orange skirt) while peripheral figures almost seem to blur out.  The details are not as important as the overall feeling of first "seeing" that moment. In contrast to a static photograph, a good painting can keep the energy of a moment in time moving forever on canvas.  As for faceless figures – we are all connected and sometimes people resonate with a  particular figure in a piece if it's not an exact rendering! Figures become almost archetypal.  

exhibits

  • 1993 - Frameworks Gallery, Wilmette, IL - Solo Watercolor Exhibition
  • 1994 - Lake Street Studio, Glen Arbor, MI - Invitational Two Woman Show
  • 1995 - Hadley School for the Blind, Winnetka, IL - Invitational Show
  • 1998 - Ruth Conklin Gallery, Glen Arbor, MI - Double Vision / Two Woman Show
  • 1999 / 2000 - Do Your P'Art Show, Winnetka, IL
  • 2000 - Commission to design Stain Glass Windows - Entrance to Greeley School, Winnetka, Il.
  • 2001- Shady Hill Winery, Suttons Bay, MI. - Leelanau Arts Council Invitational show/Double Vision
  • “Art in Process” - Curator and participant in four-person show of Chicago area artists/teachers - North Shore Country Day School, Winnetka, Il.
  • 2002/2003/2005/2012 - North Shore Art League’s Member’s Show - Winnetka, Il.
  • 2005 - Morgan Stanley - Winnetka, Il - Group Show
  • 2006 - Old Art Building, Leland MI. - “New Work”  with artists Molly Phinny/David Beemer
  • 2007 - Tucker Gallery, Evanston, Il. Two Woman show
  • 2008 - Tucker Gallery, Evanston, Il. Group Show
  • Old Art Building, Leland, MI. “New Work II” with artists Molly Phinny/ David Beemer
  • 2009 - 2011 - Seed Gallery, Elk Rapids, MI. 
  • July 2010 - “Art Leelanau”,  Benefit and Art Exhibition
  • April 2012 - Seed Gallery/Good Works Collective, Traverse City, MI. Group Show “Get Dressed”
  • May/June 2012 - “Mighty Miniature Group Show”, Michigan Artist Gallery, Suttons Bay, MI.
  • Summer 2013 - Artist-in-Residence - Old Art Building, Leland, MI, Solo Retrospective Exhibition
  • 2015 - Main Street Gallery Joint Show - Leland, MI
  • April - August  2016 - Smith College Alumnae Gallery  Show - Northampton, MA

Education & Work

  • 1974 - Smith College, B.A.
  • 1977- Degree in Graphic Arts, American Academy of Art, Chicago
  • 1978-1983 - J. Walter Thompson, Chicago - Associate Creative Director/V.P.
  • 1990 - 2007 - Alain Gavin Studio, Evanston, Il.
  • 1995 - 1997 - Greeley School, Winnetka, Il. - Teacher’s aide Jr. K/ First/Second Gr.
  • 1995 - 2000 - Double Vision - joint acrylic paintings on canvas with artist Molly Phinny
  • 1998 - 2002 - Rejoice Art teacher/Kenilworth Union Church - K/First/Second Gr.
  • 2000 - 2001 - Faculty, North Shore Art League, Winnetka, Il.
  • 2000 - 2006 North Shore Art League Board - Head of Faculty/Education