Grand Dames

Irises are unique and very intriguing to paint. I've done countless versions in various colors but this painting is one of my favorites. These flowers stand in line like on parade, each one vying for attention. Somehow they seem quite regal, don't they?

Goodbye Sis

This painting was developed from a photo taken at my daughter Heather's wedding. Tara, her sister and the matron of honor, is hugging her and conveying good wishes. It stuck me as such an emotional moment, one that I wanted to capture on paper. For me, as a mother, it was wonderful to see such obvious love displayed between my daughters.

Wildflowers of Riverwalk Park

Once again I picked wildflowers along the beautiful Columbia River in Vancouver WA. This has become an annual tradition for me. When I return to our hotel I put them in a glass and prepare to paint. Using yupo paper I prefer to skip the drawing part and just dive in. This year as I began the phone rang. It was an artist I'd just met in Florida who specializes in using yupo paper. How serendipitous! She told me "more paint, less water". I was able to get a clear, crisp rendition this way. It really works!

Waiting for the Guests to Arrive, Lake Como

I wanted to combine a festive feeling with a scenic view of Lake Como. I placed the party tent on one side with silhouettes of the host and hostess waiting for the celebration to begin to provide that combination. There is such romance in the air at Lake Como on can't help but feel joyful!

Pink Tie Tulips

We have a local organization called the "Pink Tie Friends" that raises money for women with breast cancer who do not have medical insurance. This dedicated group of women, almost all survivors of breast cancer themselves, is very active and extremely successful. They help many women with treatments and medications that otherwise they would unfortunately be unable to have. I painted these tulips for the current President, Debbie.

Blue Fish

I've been painting in watercolor for 10 years and really enjoy it. But of course what artist is satisfied to stick with one medium? This huge fish is one of my first forays into using acrylic paint. I took a workshop last spring designed to open up our creative channels. It was fun to experiment and freely throw down paint, gels, inks and powders and then wonder what would happen. I found this guy lurking there, ready to be enhanced. One fish, two fish, red fish, blue fish?

Elliott Museum, Stuart FL

This is our local museum, the Elliott. It houses memorabilia from local Indians and early settlers along with an extensive classic car collection. The museum has a gallery for juried shows, special interest exhibits and also space for art classes. Outdoor Art Shows were held on the property for years. It was quite the sight to behold: a double row of white tents filled with paintings, sides flapping in the crisp ocean breezes as potential buyers leisurely strolled around. This building is going to be torn down and replaced so I painted it to preserve it in memory.