Representational Watercolor, Acrylic and Pastel Paintings
I feel a continuous balance in life…sorrow with joy, motion with calm, simplicity with frill, and nature with human bustle. My paintings reflect these mood-swings through impressionistic landscapes, waterscapes, florals and genre life scenes. I include narrative and abstract elements to keep my works creative and painterly. I want my compositions to spark with emotion and be enjoyed. I received my Bachelor of Arts degree from Gonzaga University in Spokane, Wa., a Masters of Teaching with an Art Endorsement from Lewis and Clark College and a Certificate of Illustration and Design from the Art Museum School in Portland, Oregon. I enjoyed teaching for thirty years, then retired, and now work on my art every chance I get. I enjoy switching back and forth between pastel, watercolor and acrylic. Watercolors are started on Arches 140 lb paper; wet-on-wet or on dry paper with blending and lifting. I finish my paintings with calligraphic strokes to add light heartedness; they are free-flowing and intuitive. Acrylics are done on stretched canvas. I do small studies or color sketches first, then draw directly on the canvas. Pastels start with a watercolor wash on Wallis paper. I layer the pastels dark to light, and finish the details with pastel pencils.