For thirty-six years, I was employed as an art educator with the Hackensack Public School System and P.I. Art Center in New Jersey, USA. Loving my job as teacher and mentor, I spent those years and most of my energy inspiring adults and young artists ages five to eighteen. It was an amazing experience. Since retirement, I have continued my journey with a shift, allowing me more time to focus on integrating studio time, gallery shows, and private teaching. I have been having lots of fun doing what I love to do while exhibiting my work locally and at various, worldwide venues.
My work is divided into three categories that I have named: “Human Essence”, “Representational”, and “Abstract/Organic.” Most pieces are 2-D, mixed media paintings on stretched canvas. Earlier in my artistic journey, I was primarily focused on printmaking.

ARTIST’S STATEMENT

Time spent creating is precious, therapeutic time that enables me to formulate my place in the world and fully realize my identity. In 2010, I made a promise to a NYC Gallery owner, and to myself, that I would paint and create art every day. For the most part, I have kept that promise. For me, silly as it may sound, creating art is something comparable to breathing and eating. It brings joy to my soul. It is Zen-Like. Regardless of subject matter, or not, my work has evolved into a combination of two dimensional, mixed - media pieces. It ranges from figurative, to representational, to organic abstractions.

Currently, I am expanding a series which I first exhibited this past summer. It is entitled, “Squiggles, Globules, and Other Urban Marks.” Here, I am exploring more spontaneous mark-making with an emphasis on (but not limited to) abstraction. Movement, texture, and vibrancy are all paramount in these selections. These paintings thus far, are an intersection of representational and abstraction. I enjoy manipulating visual plains and geometric shapes to intersect, to overlap, and to create a visual distance and depth. The play of raw canvas, through transparent and translucent planes, and ultimately to juicy opaqueness, is very important to me. A sort of advanced cave drawing and painting is my goal.

I enjoy presenting a painting and allowing the viewer to stand back and take a moment to look through what I have created. Regardless of subject matter, I love to present works with open-ended narratives. This allows the viewers to establish relationships and to create their own dialogue based on the images that I provide for them.