Artist Statement

As a child, I would escape into my imagination. My days were spent pretending to be all kinds of things, mostly animals. Daydreaming came naturally, and sketching became a way to interpret the realm of make-believe. 

Since then, I have continued my passion for art, fantasy and a love of animals. Painting allows me to tap into my imagination for a few hours, and to be who I really am. I feel like my true self when I am working on a piece; and that is a feeling I want to celebrate.

My current series focuses on portraits of women, featured in a quiet reflective mood. A piece begins with a sketch based on a photograph; my goal is to capture the feeling it provoked. Next, I pencil directly onto birch panels, and use acrylic paints to bring the images to life. The wood grain shines through, adding visual interest to the skin and hair of the figures. A fascination with the Art Nouveau era led me into mixed media. Various fine art papers are used to depict clothing, and elements such as gold leaf are incorporated. These layers add texture and depth to the work, creating a more intimate expression of the moment that has been captured.