Who am I?

I have always been a rule follower. When asked what I was like as a kid my mother once described me to my late husband as an “obedient child.” I was mortified. I immediately resolved to unbind myself from others’ expectations and any black and white view of the world that I held. I was quiet growing up and I did what I was told. Answer directly when you are asked a question. Yes or no, there’s no maybe. Speak when you are spoken to. When your parents say do something, do it. The sky is blue, the grass is green. Don’t make waves. Ugh. It’s a constant challenge and a lifelong active journey for me to retrain my brain, broaden my horizons and have a voice. I have made great strides and am proud of my progress so far.  

Art is life, life is art.

Art is my way of loosening my mind. What’s my style? Not sure yet. Impressionist, expressionist, abstract, realist? Maybe a mixture of all of these and then some. I don’t need to define it.

Does the sky absolutely have to be blue when I paint it? Nope. I like using purple. The sky actually is purple sometimes. Also orange, red, blue, yellow, gray, white… I appreciate all of the vibrant colors I see in sunrises and sunsets, on sunny days and rainy days. I pay attention more often. I also like to paint the sky blue sometimes, just because I can, and I like using blue!

I paint mostly with acrylics on canvas, but sometimes I paint on paper. I like to have my paintings be “of” or “about” something. Right now my focus is on nature because I love to be outside. I also love to mess around in my studio and create mixed media art. Sometimes I like creating monotypes on paper, sometimes I sketch and use oil pastels, sometimes I make greeting cards with patterned paper and stamps. Experimenting with art, just like life. Trying new things.

When I’m not in the studio, I am playing tennis or hanging out with my bestie Ella, my fur-baby-rescue dog who is coming out of her timid shell. Slowly, but she is making progress just like I am. She likes dessert after dinner and her favorite food is chicken. She wears sweaters in the winter because she gets cold. Ella loves to snuggle with me in the morning when we watch the sunrise and as I wake up with that one cup of very precious coffee. But I can’t sit too long - Ella will let me know when it’s time to get moving.

So let’s get moving right? Make more art, find joy, explore.