I have always had a vivid imagination and while I did not initially pursue a career in the arts, I constantly endeavored to satisfy an underlying artistic need. Throughout the years I undertook various projects in commercial interior design, retail home furnishing and décor, and tradeshow representation. The constant theme running through these endeavors was a desire to express my creativity in design. It was not until 2004 that I decided to seek instruction in fine art and test my skills by enrolling in a watercolor class, as well as a pastels class. My pre-conceived notion was that I wanted to be a watercolorist, but soon found that my passion lies in pastels, and so I currently work only in soft pastels.

My work is done exclusively on sanded paper, almost always Kitty Wallis paper or board, using a variety of pastels, from many manufacturers, among which are Nupastels, Rembrandts, Schmincke, Unison, Terry Ludwig, Diane Townsend, and Sennelier. Although I have difficulty following this important rule, I try to complete several thumbnail sketches before laying pastel to paper, but more often than not, I will work out my composition on the computer, using Photoshop or Photoshop Elements, and then tweak the contrast or saturation to give me a somewhat exaggerated sense of value and edges. I then begin the piece by either completing a charcoal drawing of the large shapes followed by blocking in those shapes with random color or I simply block in the large shapes and refine and redraw as I go along. During this stage, I try to maintain a value structure close to my original design. The beginning of a painting is the time I enjoy the most. I love the feeling of stroking my pastel across a blank sheet of sanded paper. Keeping to the value structure is my primary focus. I have learned that a variety of hues can be used within a single shape, as long as their values are correct, and this makes for a far more interesting piece and gives me freedom to express myself with color.

In regard to subject matter, I am drawn to portrait and figure work, and have a strong interest in equine related art. I have done a number of pieces related to the sport of foxhunting. The graceful action and gesture of the animals, the posture and poise of the riders, and the intense colors of the hunting attire and landscape, combine in a way that I find very appealing. I am exploring more traditional landscapes, that do not incorporate figures, and am finding myself challenged to try and make a simple landscape into a vibrant and interesting work. For me, it’s a constant learning curve ~ one of which I never tire.