Portrait detail

"Attached Kimono" 36" x 60"

This is one of my favorite paintings. I painted it in 1997 and still love it as much today as when I painted it. I used an heirloom kimono as reference. The painting represents the the actual size of the child's kimono, which is my younger sisters. My Dad sent kimonos home while he was stationed in Okinawa while I was a young child. My kimono is peach in color.. This painting sold recently and I am so pleased that someone else will enjoy the beauty of this painting as much as I have.

"Flag Tokens" oil 12" x 12" and mixed media 36" x 18" Exhibit at Curtis Gallery, Lake in the Hills, IL

These are oil on canvas and mixed media works, that represent the American Flag, but in a silightly different context than we ususally think of "old glory". I was born and raised on and around military bases in the Southeast and Hawaii. The flag was a powerful symbol in my life. For many years, I have been exploring the various forms the flag can take, yet still be recognizable.

Curtis Gallery at Curtis Professional building in Lake in the the Hills, IL is a new venue for area artists to exhibit thier work. I have enjoyed the opportunity to show some of my work in this spacious building, and want to thank John Curtis for making this new gallery space possible.
You can visit http://www.curtisgallery.net/ for more information.

"Second Hand Witness" 72" x 24" Oil Detail

I read the newspaper almost every day because I like to know what is going on in my community and the world. My childhood was defined by world events, and I have lived in England and traveled extensivly throughout Europe, South Asia and Japan. I feel a connection to the global community, and this is reflected in my work.

Imagine my surprise on Friday January 25, 2002 when I opened the Chicago Tribune and found my painting of the front of the Tempo section. I was exhibiting in the "September 2001" at the Chicago Atheneaum in Schaumburg with about 100 other Chicago artists. The painting is 72" high and 24" wide, this is a detail. You can see the entire painting in my studio.

Most of my work is lyrical, with a strong naarative element. There is continuity in my art making process connecting the formal with the sensory elements of art. Woring with a full palette provides me the opportunity to continually explore the expressive possibilites of color. The colors of life are in my work, and on my palette. I love what I do and it shows im my work. There is great joy to be experienced in creative process. Color is only one element in the vastness of artistic expression.

New Drawing 2

New Drawing 1

New Drawings

"Memories of an Era" at Lkeside Legacy Arts Park, Crystal Lake, IL

The Alps in Summer 48" x 72" triptych

The commissioned painting for Dr. Deane Schmidt's orthontist office has returned to my studio for a coat of varnish. I photographed this view of the Italian Alps from the window of a tour bus while traveling through Europe during the World Youth Day 2005 pilgrimage.