Expressing the joy of life through color is my guiding force. Memory fragments the images we see. My vision is to paint the feelings as we experience or remember nature. Painting a glimpse of a speckled lily, a re-imagined flower or a quirkily shaped leaf challenges the eye to wander and re-discover the lush beauty of nature. At first blush, gardens can seem like a trite subject as "pretty" can be loaded with negative connotations. However, there is nothing more joyous than a serene stroll through a garden. Summer with its explosion of color and life at its fullest is where I find my greatest inspirations. Color is part of my subject. Saturated color juxtaposed to complimentary colors, playing with lights and darks, line and mass are all properties of my work. There are times where the visual chaos on a painting is out of control and I need to dial back and edit the piece. It's the time when I relinquish my ideas and allow the painting to speak what it is meant to say.
A native of northern Ohio, I graduated from the University of Akron, BFA in 1974 and earned an MFA from Columbus College of Art and Design in 2019. I spent over forty years working as a commission based manufacturer's representative in the Cleveland and Columbus markets, ultimately owning the rep business during the last eighteen years of my career and selling it in 2017. I promptly attended CCAD in August of 2017 where I graduated earning my MFA at age 75. I currently work as a full time artist and have enjoyed solo shows at the Sarah Gormley Gallery in Columbus, various group exhibits and most recently The Ohio State Fair. Through the last few years, I was commissioned to create work for numerous projects including the Nationwide Children's Hospital, The James Cancer Hospital and the new Hilton Hotel in Columbus. As part of paying it forward, I currently serve on the Board of Trustees at CCAD and the Foundation Board of Lorain County Community College.