Artfully Expressed
As an animal lover I strive to convey the personality, and
feelings of the subjects I paint. Each pet that I am
commissioned to capture in art is memorable to me because
I become ‘acquainted’ with it while striving to create
a mirror-like image. Painting their eyes is when the animal
comes to life on paper!
The medium I use exclusively is pastel on either velour
paper, or suede mat board. This particular application
allows me to achieve a very detailed, yet soft work of art.
It is also this technique that makes wildlife fur look so
soft that you want to reach out and touch it. The same
life-like details are also found in the sleek, shiny coat of
horses, as well as the fuzzy, downy softness of a newborn
colt.
In my childhood years I colored with crayons in a coloring
book, just like anyone else my age. I exhibited no special
talents or co-ordination in my coloring skills! It wasn’t until
I was in my 20’s that I learned this pastel technique
while my children were in grade school. After that
introduction I was self-taught, and later I found that I
had a passion for painting portraits.
I was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, but like
many, our family relocated to the warmer southwest
climate. Since 1998 we have lived in Arizona, and finally
settled in Apache Junction. The last several years
have been spent painting commissions of animal lover’s
horses, household pets, and wildlife scenes.
