Southern Cal Inspired

Forest pathway with vibrant, abstract colors.

I am just back from a quick visit to see my two daughters in San Diego. What a nice change of scenery from the cold winter days here in Chicago. We made a point of doing vacation-type activities and a highlight for me was visiting the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. I was surprised to…

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Flowers in the Air…

Colorful flowers alongside a garden pathway.

… and Art Festival Season is only a few months away! The light at the end of the COVID tunnel, winter’s end and brighter days have inspired me to paint warmer landscapes. I have spent most of the year better learning soft pastels and it finally feels like my paintings are maturing. I continue to…

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Sunrise & Sunset

Lavender field painting with sunset and tree.

I have always been drawn toward the colors in the sky, the glow just as the sun is rising or about to set. The yellow- orange- pink- purple- blue- combinations are breathtaking and limitless. I try to re-create a feeling in my paintings rather than what I actually see. There is room for individual interpretation…

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Art Therapy

Colorful sunset over a tranquil river landscape.

These are difficult times, and right now it can be a challenge to find understanding, peace, and a better way of life. Surrounding myself with the arts has always been the best way for me to live a full life. I continue to paint, be creative, learn from others, share knowledge, and hope by offering…

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Knowing Place

A painting of a sunflower with yellow petals.

I have been working with soft pastels lately, and revisiting a favorite subject… wildflowers in nature. This new series of paintings is inspired by summer visits to Baroda, Michigan. I first created a small mixed media painting using photo transfer techniques, encaustic medium, and oil pastels. I focused on dimension and textures plus I became…

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Revival; before and after

Abstract landscape with earthy, cloudy textures.

Springtime is when I have to start planning my exhibition space for the upcoming summer festival season. It forces me to review art inventory, and re-assess what paintings are “show worthy”, and those that need to be re-worked. Ever since I started incorporating alcohol inks into encaustic medium, I have found a new way to…

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Summer Inspiration

Colorful abstract painting of trees and path.

I recently visited the Chicago Botanic Gardens knowing I would find visual inspiration. The colors of gorgeous velvety red roses in the Rose Garden, to the perfectly manicured bonsai and pine trees in the Japanese Garden, were a gift. In the English Walled Garden, I watched as wedding vows were exchanged, the scene felt like…

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New Oil Paintings

Landscape painting with flowers and cloudy sky.

I continue to be inspired by my visit to the Burren in County Clare, Ireland last September. A new body of work is slowly starting to emerge in my studio, and I am in the midst of it all. One of the challenges for this series has been my desire to incorporate a variety of…

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Teacher as Student

Watermelon and papaya on a table.

This winter I decided to take an oil painting class with Nina Weiss at the Evanston Art Center. Oil paints are a medium I have avoided for my entire adult creative life! The reason I want to learn now is to be able to incorporate them with the encaustic medium. I also hope to combine…

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The Forces of Nature

Volcano erupting near coast and green hills.

It’s the holiday season and last month I received a commission gift request, to paint Mt Etna erupting! The couple met while studying abroad at the University of Catania in Sicily. I have never been to Sicily, but have been to Italy several times, and had to relate to the landscape of this Italian island…

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