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Artist Statement:

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My inspiration for en Plein air (painting outdoors) comes from the landscapes of the Columbia Gorge and natural preserves in Washington. Such happy places as Fort Vancouver, Catherine Creek, and Trout Lake appear in my work as acrylics on canvas or watercolors on paper.

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A favorite place for me to paint is out on my deck overlooking the Columbia River. The painting “Celestial” is inspired by the winds blowing clouds over Mt. Hood. I capture the mood of sky, cloud, and river on gift cards too, and these are available during my open studio tour with Washougal Studio Artists.

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After one or two studies or mini-paintings, I transform memories of places into playful compositions, sometimes freely moving subject matter. The studies are rendered in pencil or watercolors inside journals. The studio paintings that follow may take a week or months to complete.

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I hold a Bachelor of Art degree from the University of California, Santa Barbara. Later I worked five years as a gallery associate at the Larson Gallery in Yakima. After completing an MA in Museology at Central Washington University, I found work as a public schoolteacher. In 1995, a career in Montessori education called to me, and I earned a diploma from the Association Montessori Internationale.

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I retired from Spokane Public Schools in 2009. Thank you for celebrating the arts with me!

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