Artist Statement

I have always been drawn to the luminous effects created with watermedia.  My choice of subject matter varies as I seek to express what inspires me at the moment. This can be the sweet gaze of a beloved pet, a fresh and innocent new cactus bloom, the play of light and shadow across an interesting face, or the challenge of taking a known subject and elevating the excitement level in some new way.  I love to experiment and try new ideas and techniques.

HOW I paint these inspirations is all about the use of textures and luminous, juicy color, color, color!  Did I say I love color? YES!  I love color!  I love to splash a fun and unexpected color or pigment into my paintings.  I don’t always choose color based upon exactly what I see, but rather, what I feel will tell the story.

WHY I paint is to share some of the JOY I feel about the subject through my use of color.  If my work brings a smile, I feel my goal has been accomplished.

Exhibitions, Awards & Recognitions

Exhibitions:

2015 - AWA Fall Membership Exhibition; Juror:  Lian Quan Zhen

2106 - AWA Spring Membership Exhibition; Juror:  Mel Stabin

2016 - AWA Fall Membership Exhibition; Juror: Robert Burridge

2017 - WFWS 42nd Annual Exhibition:  Juror:  Jeannie McGuire

2017 - AWA Spring Membership Exhibition; Juror:  Birgit O'Connor

2017 - First Thursday Group Exhibition at Mesa Medical Complex; April 18th - June 30th

2017-2018 - Solo Exhibition - Russo Salon, Fountain Hills, AZ (July 2017 thru June 2018)

2017 - AWA Fall Membership Exhibition: Juror:  Anne Abgott

2018 - AWA Spring Membership Exhibition: Juror:  Michael Reardon

2018- WFWS 43rd Annual Exhibition:  Juror: Ted Nuttall

2018 - Arizona Art Alliance, “A League of Their Own” - June 2018 (Holland Gallery, Cave Creek, AZ); Juror: Sherry Kimmel

2018 - AWA Fall Membership Exhibition: Juror: Jean Pedersen

2018 - CWA Fall Exhibition: Juror: Marty Gibson

2019 - WFWS 44th Annual Exhibition: Juror - Kathleen Conover

2019 - First Thursday Group Exhibition at ASU Gammage Theater, Tempe, Arizona. April 1 thru May21, 2019

2019 - AWA Spring Membership Exhibition: Juror : Joyce Hicks

2019 - Arizona Art Alliance “A League of Their Own” - June 2019 (Holland Gallery, Cave Creek, AZ) Juror: Sherry Kimmel

2019 - AWA Fall Membership Exhibition: Juror: Antonio Masi

2020 - CWA Painting Exhibition : Juror Andre Licardi

2020 - AWA Spring/Fall Membership Exhibition : Juror - Geri Medway

2020 - WFWS 45th Annual Exhibition: Juror - Stephen Quiller

2021 - Phoenix SkyHarbor Museum, Terminal 4 (February thru September) - “Sonoran Strata Gold”

2021 - AWA Spring Exhibition : Juror - Tom Lynch

2021 - CWA Exhibition- West Valley Art Museum; Juror - Kim Johnson-Nechtman

2021 - AWA Fall Exhibition - Scottsdale Civic Center: Juror David R Smith

2022- Experimental & Imaginative Water Media Exhibition - CWA/Sonoran Arts League - Center For the Arts

2022 - CWA Fall Exhibition - Fountain Hills Community Center; Juror - Ellen Nemetz

2023 - CWA Spring Exhibition - Shemer Art Center, Phoenix, AZ - Juror - Carol McSweeney

2023 - AWA Spring Exhibition - St Anthony on the Desert Episcopal Church, Scottsdale, AZ; - Juror - Mary Shumaker

2023 - CWA Fall Exhibition - University Club of Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ. Juror- Andrea Merican.

2024 - CWA Spring Exhibition - Vista Center for the Arts; Surprise, AZ; Juror - Cynthia Peterson

2024 - AWA Spring Exhibition; Fountain Hills Community Center, Fountain Hills, AZ; Juror - Stan Miller

2024 - CWA Fall Exhibition; Fountain Hills Community Center, Fountain Hills, AZ;Juror - Annette Smith

2024 - CWA Special Exhibition at Mayo Clinic, Phoenix August 1st thru Nov 7th, 2024

Awards:

2016 – Merchant Award - AWA Spring  Exhibition -  “Just Five More Minutes Please!”

2016 – Best of Show – AWA Fall  Exhibition – “ Sweet Lucy”

2017 - Merchant Award - AWA Fall  Exhibition - "Morning Coffee"

2018 - Award of Distinction - AWA Spring Exhibition - "December Morning Memories"

2018 - Awarded Signature Member Status in the Arizona Watercolor Association (AWA)

2018 - Merchant Award - AWA Fall Exhibition - “Waiting For Wild Turkey”

2019 - Merchant Award - AWA Spring Exhibition - “Festive Agave”

2019 - Awarded Signature Member Status in Western Federation Watercolor Society (WFWS)

2019 - Award of Distinction - AWA Fall Exhibition - “Joyful Reunion II”

2020 - Best of Show - AWA Spring/Fall Exhibition - “Love Poems”

2021 - Merchant Award - AWA Spring Exhibition - “DesertScape”

2021 - Merchant Award - CWA Exhibition - “Festive Palo Verde”

2021 - Awarded Signature Member Status in Contemporary Watermedia Artists (CWA)

2022 - Merchant Award - Experimental & Imaginative Water Media Exhibition - “Horse Spirit”

2022 - Merchant Award - CWA Exhibition - “Hot Pepper”

2023 - Merchant Award - CWA Exhibition - “Love Over All”

2023 - Merchant Award - AWA Exhibition- “Hot- Cha - Cha”

2023 - Mildred (Mickey) Daniels Memorial Award - CWA Exhibition - “Claret Cup Bloom-Tangled”

2024 - Mildred (Mickey) Daniels Memorial Award - CWA - “Keep Up”

2024 - Merchant Award - AWA Exhibition - “Window Floral”

2024 - Award of Excellence - CWA Exhibition - “ Sauquaro Bloomfest III”