Making art is a form of magic. It's like conjuring or a kind of alchemy. The task of the artist is to transform the jumble of ideas, fugitive feelings and episodic memories into the physical manifestation of a painting or a sculpture or a print. And sometimes, when the wind is just right and all the stars are aligned and the muse is in the room, it works. I make narrative paintings but also direct observation paintings. Curiosity and a powerful urge to understand a subject motivates the work I do. The materials I use to achieve this run the gamut from paper, canvas, bits of photographs and maps, wood panels, ink, acrylics, gouache, spray paint and gold and silver leaf.
I was raised in San Francisco. The combination of a colorful, art-filled city and a fairly crazy family were fertile ground for an artistically inclined kid. I received a BA in Fine Art from Sonoma State University, married, traveled widely, read incessantly, birthed a little human, worked for many years in both the wine and the book industries and through it all drew and painted my way to a deeper understanding of the transformative power of art. I have participated in solo, group and juried exhibitions in California. I moved to Boise in 2018 and was introduced to its vibrant art scene by becoming a member of Boise Open Studios where I continue to exhibit my work. I mentor young artists which has been an incredibly rich and meaningful opportunity to offer guidance and support. My journey as an artist has been a long and winding one that has brought me to where I work today - in a peaceful, light-filled studio with my four-legged muse, Diego Rey the Border Collie, by my side.
