“My art is an ongoing dialogue with the natural world, an effort to capture its essence and celebrate its ineffable beauty.”
About Me
I have always been a bit of a ‘strayaway’…a seeker who leans into adventure. From a tender age, I had an innate desire for new experiences, meeting interesting people and a proclivity for the unconventional.
Each step in my artistic journey has yielded exciting discoveries. But after years of working representationally, I ventured into the realm of abstract art and discovered a true sense of adventure in my painting. I love experiencing the mercurial aspects of abstract painting…never knowing what twists and turns a painting might take along the way, or exactly what the end result might be! Abstract painting demands a letting go, the courage to surrender to chaos, the willingness to take risks and the persistence to stay committed to each painting until it says ‘yes’.
I find abstract painting to be a purer form of expression allowing me to communicate visually without the constraint of realistic, objective forms. With its ability to be expressive without representing the real world, abstract painting allows me to more fully respond to those things that continually fascinate and inspire: people and places, poetry and music, culture and nature.
Examples of My Work
Fun Facts
- Home – I live on a farm in rural Georgia
- Home – We have six cows, five goats and two donkeys
- Music – I play the fiddle! (Traditional Irish Music)
- Travel – I’ve made more than 20 trips to Ireland
- Music – Yes, I play in pubs when I’m in Ireland!
More About Me
What other non-artist jobs have you had?
I had a 30 year career as a Critical Care Registered Nurse/Clinical Nurse Educator at University Hospital in Augusta, GA. Interestingly, art played an unexpected part in my nursing career. On numerous occasions I was asked to create illustrations for our Nursing Procedure Manuals, the hospital commissioned me to create a number of sketches of physicians for their retirement banquet programs, and towards the end of my career I was even asked to create original artwork for the newly renovated Cardiac Cath Lab Recovery Room.
When did you know you were an artist?
My earliest memories involve making marks and drawing. The only answer I ever gave to the question, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” was “an artist”! My declared major in college was initially Art but with a bit of pressure from my parents to be more ‘practical’ I decided to major in Nursing. Even tho for years it was on the proverbial ‘back burner’, I always, ALWAYS, kept my art interests fueled. I held fast to my dream of one day being a full time artist and the rest is history!
Which artist (famous or not) has influenced you the most and how?
I’ve had many wonderful teachers and mentors over the years, but at this moment in time I have to say the work of Joan Mitchell has been a major influence. I had been working abstractly for some time when I had the opportunity to see The Joan Mitchell retrospective at the Baltimore Museum of Art in 2022, The scale, the strength and the depth of her work left me awestruck…how I would love to be able to have a conversation with her!!!