Artist Statement

Picasso once said, “It took me years to paint like Raphel, but a lifetime to paint like a child.”

As a former art teacher, my young students were always playful and fearless in their approach to their artwork. Their bold strokes and bright palettes were charged with energy and joy. Now in my second career, I approach each canvas with the same ethos. My rich toolkit includes bold colors and patterns, multiple layers, and varied textures.

I grew up in Maine where the rhythmic sounds of waves and distant foghorns were part of my everyday existence. The simple beauty saturated my soul, is part of who I am, and is expressed in my artwork. With frequent return visits to Maine, as well as many other inspiring coastal adventures, I have integrated the natural beauty of the environment into my work. Rather than the traditional landscape, my paintings create a somewhat abstract “feeling of place”. I believe this allows us to access those special feelings and memories through art that may escape our usual awareness. I leave it up to the viewer to interpret that magical place that brings them joy.

Most recently the solitude of the pandemic provided me the opportunity to explore and surround myself with joyful still life paintings with a “mid-century vibe”. Incorporating the beauty of nature, food, and drink- three of my favorite things!

I felt as though we were expecting company. Those treasured memories of gatherings around the table with friends and family is at the heart of this series.

I try to capture the feeling of these meaningful moments and memories in my seascapes and still life paintings. I thank my young students for reminding me to “paint like a child”.

Biography

I hope to share the joy and whimsy of my art and bring a smile to a collector’s face each time they pass by my work.

I was raised in Portland, Maine where my dad had a shoe store for 53 years. After college, I settled in Fairfield County and taught art in the Stamford and Greenwich, CT Public Schools for over 35 years. My final 29 years were spent at Westover Art Magnet School where I had the opportunity to design and create over 75 set designs with my students.

In addition to my BA in Art Education, my MA degrees in Reading Education and Correlating Art with Children’s Literature have contributed to my artistic style by reading thousands of children’s picture books! My studies continued at Silvermine School of Art, New Canaan CT, International School for Photography, NYC, and Greenwich Art Society.

Throughout my career I have received several awards for my street photography and paintings. I am grateful to those jurors.

My paintings are collected from Maine to California with many pieces at Stamford Hospital, Yale New Haven Hospital and other health facilities and residences. My work has been featured in Maine Home and Design as an “Up and Coming Artist”, Off The Wall Magazine, Maine Art Annual Guide, and Serendipity Magazine. I was honored to have my painting “Afternoon Delight” in architecturaldigest.com May 2023 Issue and most recently chosen to participate in Art Miami 2024.

My husband John, a retired school principal, and I live in Stamford, CT. We are always happy to travel to visit our grandchildren in beautiful places where I take thousands of resource photos- Vermont and Santa Barbara, CA. What amazing views!

I am a juried member of the Loft Artists Association where I have my studio above a brewery in the Harbor Point neighborhood.

I am thrilled to be a part of the Portland Art Gallery family for a number of years.