My life in art began in elementary school, drawing maps and the life stages of butterflies. The first real art teacher I had was in high school, spending all my spare time in his big light-filled classroom. In college, I learned to apply my talent equally to 3D and flat work, finding my own style and vision in graduate school with the help of great New York artists and teachers such as Marvin Goldstein, Voy Fangor and Nancy Graves. Through them I discovered that “the proper school to learn art is not life but art”.
Respect for those I have learned from has moved me to continue mentoring children and adults through workshops and private lessons. Believing deeply in the need to expand visual art programs in our public schools, I will continue to work to help create conditions dedicated to raising more funds for art in the schools.
For me, making art is a playful and a magical experience, applying discipline and skill to my imaginative vision. Moving to New Mexico ten years ago has definitely influenced my colour palette and sense of space. I am fortunate to be able to express myself in many media, and enjoy the challenge that each of them demands. My favourite quote sums up the starting point of my art:
“Mere colour, unspoiled by meaning, and unallied
with definite form, can speak to the soul in
a thousand different ways.”
-Oscar Wilde
Like Oscar Wilde, I believe that “art is the unique result of a unique temperament. Its beauty comes from the fact that the [artist} is what he is.” Opening my own studio and gallery in Santa Fe allows me to bring together and display examples of all kinds of work within the same sunny space! The public will now be able to appreciate and view my visual world of painting, pastels, graphics and ceramic sculpture.
