Revisiting Giverny and Claude Monet

Garden path with archway and blooming flowers.

I was in France this past September and one of the highlights of the trip for me was visiting Claude Monet’s home and gardens. Just incredible, to be where Claude Monet lived, where he worked, gardened, painted. I was in awe of the wide variety of flowers in the English Garden, every color imaginable, along…

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IAPS and Upcoming Exhibitions

The international association of pastel societies is a group of people who are interested in learning about pastels.

Tuesday morning I am headed to Albuquerque to attend the International Association of Pastel Societies biennial convention – IAPS There has been so much hype on social media and I can’t imagine what it will be like, I am very curious and excited! I started painting with soft pastels during the pandemic when the world…

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Before and After

Starry desert landscape with two trees.

I’ve been spending time reviewing some of my older encaustic paintings and have reworked a few of them, this first example shown above has changed completely from the original. I had painted the Sugar Hill Lupines back in 2016 and at the time had done a series of lupine paintings. I used an electric tjanting…

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A New Normal

Path through wildflower field and trees.

Because of COVID 19, artists have had to find ways to adjust to the way we exhibit, teach, and even reconnect with the creative process. It’s been a challenge, to say the least. For me, after a few weeks of disbelief and confusion about what was happening in the world, I was able to tap…

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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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Alcohol Inks

Colorful abstract floral painting with vibrant hues.

I’m having the greatest time, playing around and learning about alcohol inks! The fun started by incorporating the inks and fusing layers of color into encaustic medium. The translucent qualities of the inks mesh beautifully with the similar translucency of wax medium. After an initial introduction to inks by combining them with encaustic medium, I…

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Geisha

Abstract painting of a woman in red.

New Geisha paintings Definition from Wikipedia: Japanese name Kanji 芸者 “Geisha (芸者) or geigi (芸妓) are traditional female Japanese entertainers. They are skilled at different Japanese arts, like playing classical Japanese music, dancing and poetry. Some people believe that geisha are prostitutes, this however is false. The term “geisha” is made of two Japanese words,…

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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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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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