Gallery

This collection of work is inspired by the spectacular, ever-changing skies and seashores. I have spent countless hours walking along beaches everywhere; it is my favorite place to be. And every time I set foot on my path, I experience something new. There have been moments where the beauty of the colors in the sky and water has literally taken my breath away.

The silhouettes in each painting speak to various stages in life; the stage of independence and solitude, time spent with a most beloved pet, precious moments with a significant other, making memories with family, and being lucky enough to experience old age. As I move through life, and the older I get, I am often reminded of how precious these moments are. And now the stages of life, whether they are my own experience or those closest to me, just like my seascapes and skies, take my breath away too.

Everyone should take time throughout their lives to experience moments of solitude. When we do, we learn a great deal about who we are at our core and those things that are most important to us. Through these reflective practices, we develop much needed clarity, self-confidence and a sort of comfort in our own skin. If we do not take time to do this, we often follow the thoughts and actions of others instead of being true to ourselves.

There is a sort of peacefulness that comes from being around nature and especially around bodies of water. This is where I go most often to experience my moments of solitude; to think, to relieve anxiety, to process new ideas, and to be alone without the distractions and chaos of everyday life. The figures in my paintings reach out to you as a reminder that you too need that time to yourself. It is not a selfish thing, for by doing so you are actually happier and more self-fulfilled, which in turn allows you to be present for others.

A bird is one of the rare creatures of the air. They are one with nature, intuitively knowing their surroundings; their instincts guide them in all aspects of life, from migration, to foraging, to communicating, to nesting.

Birds show us their individuality through their colorful, vibrant hues. From the fiery reds of a sunset to the serene blues of the calm ocean, each shade tells a story, evoking emotions deep within us.

Their beautiful songs are often the first signs of life after a dark, cold winter. Their journeys remind us to embrace the winds of change and find beauty in our own journeys.

Most recently I have fallen in love with birds. They sort of pulled me out of darkness a short while ago (which is a story for another time). When I began this new collection, I became more fascinated with each new discovery. As each painting came to life, my happiness grew. My hope is that as you view this collection, they bring you as much joy as they brought me when I created them.

Intimacy by definition is a close familiarity or friendship; it is often something of a personal and private nature. And while it is the most beautiful relationship that two people can share, I believe it to be quite rare and special. To have true intimacy, you must allow yourself to be vulnerable, to trust someone to the utmost capacity. And most importantly, it must be a mutual trust.

For most of my adult life I hadn’t felt any sort of connection resembling love or intimacy. But then I met someone who gently and slowly chipped away at the walls that had slowly built up over many years, and I did the same for him. We share a closeness that is unexplainable; it is mind, body and soul.

Some part of me believes that it took so long because I needed to be completely happy in my own life before I could share it with someone else. Another part of me believes that I was scared of the uncertainty of it all. But mostly I believe that it was up to the fates, and we met later in life for no other reason. It was simply our time.

This collection of work invites you in to explore intimacy, to be confident and strong in yourself and in your relationship, to trust and to be trusted, and to allow yourself to be loved and to love in return.

I am envious of space; wide-open, uninterrupted space that reaches out so far that it vanishes into the horizon. When I feel suffocated by the everyday clutter of people and chaos that goes along with living in a big city like Chicago, I escape. I pack up my car with a month’s worth of clothes, canvases, paints and drawing pads, and I just go.

As I make my way through miles of farmland, nature preserves, small towns and countryside, my mind begins to naturally calm itself. My thoughts become more focused and new clarity finds its way to me. I gain a sense of peace and purpose once again.

Standing in Fields of Gold is a collection that brings me back to those solo road trips, back to wide open spaces where I forget about time and tasks and all that goes with the pressures of everyday life.

I close my eyes, picture myself back in these fields, alone (or with a furry little friend), and blissfully content. And I begin again.

While these paintings do not belong in any specific collection, they each have a story all on their own.

Each work is described in more detail in The Gallery of Individual Artworks.