BIOGRAPHY

At the age of 4, I started traveling regularly with my parents. By my teens, I had seen much of North America and the ‘traveling bug’ was firmly planted. These early experiences of exploring shaped my appreciation for the land and fed my adventurous spirit. Knowing that I would make Art my profession, I concentrated on Art in high school, applied early and attended the Art Institute of Pittsburgh full time for my senior year. I continued my study of Fine Art and Product Design, sampling some of my other interests of Health and Physical Education, at Ohio State University, Columbus College of Art and Design and the University of Pittsburgh. Teaching is something I have always enjoyed, so I student taught and gained my teaching certification as well. After graduation, I moved to the Adirondack Mountains, to indulge my love of the outdoors. Here, I started painting from my kayak and hiking to remote locations with my easel. Plein air painting was a perfect combination of learning, adventure, art and nature and became my passion.

Now, my upbringing and education have brought me full circle to my passion and profession. I have been a professional artist for the past 16 years. I have painted in oils, acrylics and watercolor. At this stage in my career, I’m concentrating on oils on linen. I enjoy painting small plein air pieces, (outside, on location) and also particularly enjoy the other end of the spectrum… extra large canvases. My plein air pieces can be finished works in themselves or I may use them as a study for a larger studio piece, where I often incorporate wildlife.

My work is included in many private, public and corporate collections. I have created commissions for corporate executive private collections such as Lucent Technology, Smith Barney, New York Daily News and for commercial commissions on public display such as Six Flags. I have been featured in a PBS documentary The Adirondacks. I am a member of Oil Painters of America and Allied Artists of America and a past chapter leader of New York Plein Air Painters.

I look at painting as a continually evolving process. There will always be more to learn! So along with my artist/husband we have moved our family to Gardiner, Montana… on the edge of the Yellowstone River, overlooking Yellowstone National Park, where we can study dramatic landscapes and amazing wildlife right out our backdoor – literally! I continue traveling, observing, taking workshops and reading every art book I can get my hands on. And, of course, paint at every opportunity, from the subtle details of a still life to the dramatic landscapes of the National Parks.