ARTIST STATEMENT:

I am inspired by snapshots of the world I experience around me, either through a lens or the naked eye. The color of the ocean, the light moving through the sky, a mollusk leaving a path in the sand, patterns occurring in nature or an object washed up in the sand – I capture these in a photograph or in my mind and it drives me to put that first mark on a surface.

Making art for me is a process of seeing, searching, building, and learning. It is about putting information in and taking it out.

EDUCATION & BACKGROUND:

BFA – Alfred University, Alfred, NY 1996

Concentration in Graphic Design, Photography & Communications

I am a full time mother of two, wife, painter, and creator of many things. My passion is painting and photography but my background is very colorful and spans many areas of artistry.

My creative career has spanned more than 20 years with the first eight years in New York, NY after graduating from Alfred University, NY with a BFA in 1996. New York City gave me many opportunities in various fields such as with ABC Television – photography department, and assistant to the Art Director on Good Morning America with on-air graphics. Cosmetic Package Design with companies such as Elizabeth Arden & Ralph Lauren and finally Victoria’s Secret direct-mail catalogue design. After experiencing 9/11 in New York, I decided to move to Sarasota, FL in 2002 and continue my graphic design career for Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate and then to SRQ Magazine. After my first child was born in 2007, I left the office environment and freelanced from home in graphic design, did commission painting work and took continuing education classes at Ringling College of Art & Design. At that time I was also represented by State of the Arts Gallery from 2007-2010.

I have continued my studies at Ringling College of Art & Design in Sarasota, FL and The Art Center Sarasota over the years while raising my children. In February 2019 I placed third in Ringling College’s “Best of Ringling Continuing Studies Student Exhibition” with my painting of “Salt Flats 1”.

My work spans many different mediums from painting, collage, encaustic and photo transfers incorporated with painting. Currently I am painting with acrylics and incorporating photo transfers. I like the texture that the transfer leaves on the surface and I love the process itself before laying the paint on. Currently my work relies on very geometric landscapes that play with shape and shadow either created by nature or ones that I construct myself.

Through my travels and experiencing different landscapes, I am really inspired by the images that I bring home and want to share and translate onto canvas.

I continue to paint and do commission work as well as freelance in graphic design.

“I don’t like to say I have given my life to art. I prefer to say art has given me my life.”

 Frank Stella