Artist Statement

My paintings are influenced by my reaction to viewing aspects of nature. I am particularly interested in the beauty intrinsic in nature because it enables me, and I hope others, to transcend and transform the small and large, difficult realities of life. Gradually, I developed my style which is that I paint the colors and shapes that convey the glorious landscapes that are abundant in nature and also inspire me. I characterize my paintings as being semi-abstract, because the sky, mountains, water, and trees are all recognizable as such. It is my unique sensibility to nature that I paint. In the words of William Wordsworth, "There was a time when meadow, grove, and stream, the earth and every common sight, to me did seem appareled in celestial light, the glory and the freshness of a dream."

I feel fortunate to have art in my life, primarily as an artist, but also because I continually view other artists, both masters of the past and the exceptional artists living now. I also study the social realities that have influenced artists historically and impact on the work of artists today.

Artist Bio

I grew up in New York City. The first thing I did when I earned money was to buy an original woodcut. My journey to becoming an artist began when I lived with a friend of mine who was taking art classes, and one day she invited me to go with her. Everyone worked in pastel, so I did also, and after I created a still life the teacher was very complimentary. Following this, I began to explore watercolor. I then had the good fortune of having an extended stay in Rio de Janeiro where I created wood and linoleum prints. When I returned home I continued printmaking through lithography. Then I took classes with Alan Hart who taught in a studio on Sullivan Street in NYC where I painted in oil for the first time and was met with a good deal of encouragement. I continued my art education at the Art Student's League in NYC studying Anatomy for Artists, Life Drawing and Portraiture. I experimented further with different mediums: watercolor, acrylic, oil, and realized that painting in oil was what I loved. Joseph Stapleton's course at the Art Student's League cemented my commitment to oil as the medium that best expressed my sensibilities.The blended colors, texture and scent of the oil paint enthralled me and I've been painting in oil ever since. I continued taking classes part time at the Art Student's League for many years, where the excellent criticism I received, along with my passion for painting, enabled me to develop my skills as an artist. Some years ago I had a studio in NYC and currently in Castine, Maine.