About Me
I am a classically trained artist whose work has been shown at The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art Rental Gallery, The American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters in NYC as part of an Allied Artists of America exhibit, and Windsor Gallery in Miami, Florida. I used to paint for for the San Francisco Opera, ACT, The San Francisco Ballet, and movies that came to town.
I studied Art at UCSC, Architecture at Cal Berkeley, and scene painting at The Studio and Forum of Stage Design in New York City.
My work is large and dramatic. My theatrical background and training is evident in each piece. Early in my career, I was successful in garnering shows and mural work but mid-career I moved to digital media and work in tech to support my children as a single parent. I continued to do murals and large wall hangings, but didn’t have the time to dedicate my all to my art. Now that the children are adults, I can re-emerge and I’ve already had a solo show which garnered a commission.
About The Work
When you look at the paintings on my website, you will see that in the early days of my career I was very controlled. In fact I felt like I had to control every bit of the composition, color, and texture. I fought the medium so it would succumb to my vision. I used straight edges and compass to ensure a clean look. Only the carousel horse series shows a partnership with the paint.
Recent Work
When I’m working on a new piece in the organic series, I’m thinking about chaos, structure, intentional and unintentional outcomes, “organic” and the various definitions of that word, the beauty in imperfection, climate change, and the tenacity of life. The work and I are having a conversation every step of the way. I listen to the paint and the water. I invoke the feminine and flora deities.
When I was younger, I was very conscious of how people would perceive my work. My mother would laugh at my work if I departed from something classical. I’ve always had an affinity to flowers, but when I was younger, the art world considered flowers as decorative and feminine — two bad words. Well guess what, I am feminine, and if my work is considered feminine, so much the better. Through life’s trials, I have learned to let go of alot of things, and control over the paint is one of them. I now work in partnership with the medium and let the paint do what paint does. Of course I encourage it to move for a better composition, but it lands where it lands. I then listen to the composition. Whereas I may have had an idea of what I wanted to paint in the foreground, the background may tell me that that isn’t going to work. So I listen for the proper subject to be revealed to me.
Now, in my later years. I am finally exploring the canvas, the paint, the form, the composition and working with them all as a friend. I’m really looking forward to seeing how this evolves.
Please check out my still life and landscape paintings, as well as murals, and a series on carousel horses.
Support The Arts
The archival-quality prints of my work can be actual size or scaled down. You may also order custom sizes — just reach out for pricing. I offer free crating, shipping, and insurance on everything.
If you would like to commission a work, please contact me.
If you would like to become a monthly sponsor, please go to my contact page and fill out the form. Sponsors get VIP invitations to gallery openings, special offers and sales, and first refusal on new works.
Please follow my Facebook page and Instagram.
Galleries and Exhibits
- Allied Artist of America juried exhibition at The American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters, NYC – competition runner up “Cat in the Stairwell” – group show -1980
- San Francisco Museum of Modern Art Rental Gallery – Marian Parmenter curator – Various paintings – all sold – 1988 – 1996
- Windsor Gallery, Miami, Florida – still life exhibit – group show – 1987
- The Virginia Inn, Seattle – Patrice Demombynes curator – “The Window Series – An Inspiration for the Imagination” – solo show – 2017
- 1340Art – represented in the online gallery and featured in the magazine – “Red Spring,” “Window 11,” “New Mythology 3” – 2017
- Light Space & Time online gallery – Special Recognition for Exceptional Art, Nature Art Exhibition for “Red Spring” 2017
- Contemporary Art Gallery Online – All Colors Competition Winner “Window 11” 2017
Theater, Opera, TV, Movies
- Painted San Francisco Opera backdrops and scenery; onstage touchup of traveling sets – Journeyman Scenic Artist
- American Conservatory Theater: In-house productions and traveling shows – Journeyman Scenic Artist
- TV Commercials – Journeyman Scenic Artist
- Bill Graham presents – Scenic Artist
- Movies: Invasion of the Body Snatchers, Escape from Alcatraz, made-for-TV movies, commercials – Scenic Artist
- Westport Country Playhouse – Westport, Connecticut – Assistant Designer
- Studio and Forum of Stage Design, New York, New York – Assistant to the Designer
Commissioned Work
- Private commission, “Pan” 34”x72” acrylic on canvas – private collection Seattle 2017
Murals and Faux Finishes
- Private residences in the SF Bay and Puget Sound Areas – various themes 1987 – 2017
- Pediatric surgeon’s office in Spokane, WA – underwater mural 16’ x 6’ – 1998
- Residential murals – San Francisco Bay Area 1990 – 1996
- Residential murals – Puget Sound Area 1996 – 2023
Education
- University of California, Santa Cruz – Art
- University of California, Berkeley – Architecture
- School of Visual Concepts, Seattle – Digital Media
- Studio and Forum of Stage Design, New York City – Scenic Art
Professional Organizations
- Artist Trust