Art has always been an important part of my life. When looking back on the drawings and art projects that I brought home from elementary school, I can see that I always felt the need to express myself with art. It has taken many forms through out the years, from painting classes, to designing decorative painted items that I sold, to painting murals, and now my oil painting. I paint exclusively in oil, savoring the rich buttery feel of the paint on my brush, the texture of the canvas, even the smell of the paint. Right now I focus primarily on still lifes, but occasionally will paint a landscape or animal when the mood strikes.
I am drawn to the still life by the way the light falls on ordinary objects, illuminating them to draw the viewer into the painting. I am currently using objects of contemporary society such as Chinese take out containers, coffee cups, and paper bags to create my still lifes. I believe that these objects can be beautiful and interesting in their own way.
My still life paintings begin long before I even enter my studio. Through years of combing antique shops and flea markets, I have collected many interesting pieces that find their way into my paintings. More recently I have been trying to use ordinary objects such as take out containers and chopsticks, coffee cups, or fast food wrappings in a symbolic way or with a humorous twist. These “trash to treasure” paintings relate to our fast paced, throw away society, finding beauty in the ordinary. I frequently have a color concept or a theme that I am trying to express, and it often takes some time to get it right. I arrange the light so it falls on the objects with interesting shadows, lost and found edges. Then the painting begins, trying to capture the subtle nuances of light and color in the still life. I finally enjoy choosing the frame that completes the still life painting.
Memberships:
- Oil Painters of America
- Associated Artists of Pittsburgh
- Pittsburgh Society of Artists
- South Hills Art League
- Upper St. Clair League for the Arts
- McMurray Art League
Education:
- West Virginia University
- Studied with Robert Daley and Elizabeth Robbins
- Workshops with David Leffel, Robert Johnson, James Sulkowski, Phil Salvato, Jeff Legg