Frame of Mind Spotlight

How does my artwork relate to the theme of the show?  What is happening in our country right now fills me with anger; I used to be proud to be an American, as we stood for justice, we stood for freedom of thought and speech.  We were respected.  I grew up to think that America was the good guys, heroes in World War II, standing against the axis powers and fascism. Perhaps that was an illusion, as it has been dismantled so quickly.  The rise of open racism and misogyny is jarring, but I have come to understand that it probably was there all along, the ugly underneath a surface that seemed so bright.  Now that it is exposed, I see a future where it is rejected and overturned.  The youth of our nation are standing up for their rights alongside the older generations, and it fills me with hope.  I would like to see a future where women and people of color don’t have to worry that those in charge will harass, detain, vote against them.  I choose the Venus, or Woman, of Willendorf as a focal point because it is a powerful ancient artifact, a personal totem expressing femininity, fertility, and a connection to the earth.  As dawn heralds a new beginning to a day, I herald the beginning of a new American dream.  This is my frame of mind.

What was the first artwork you created that really mattered to you?   I was a commissioned oil painter as a teen but then didn’t paint again for decades. In May of 2021, the year I really started creating again, I found a blank canvas that I had picked up at a garage sale and began to paint the Green Man.  As I was painting on that beautiful Saturday morning, I received a call to let me know that a friend of mine had passed. He was my oldest child’s godfather, and only in his 50’s.  I finished the painting that day.  The Green Man is a symbol of Spring, of Life.  I keep this painting in my studio, and it brings back fond memories of my friend Niall whenever I see it.

Do you have any upcoming projects that you would like to share?   I am very proud to be participating in the International Sea Glass Festival happening in Monterey on the last weekend of June. The festival has traditionally been on the East Coast, but they had their first West Coast one in Seattle last year, and for 2026 they selected a California location. This is a juried event, so pleased to have been selected to be a vendor, and to have been asked to be an expert glass identifier for attendees. (I am the Bottle Curator for the Half Moon Bay Historical Museum, and I love vintage glass!) I have also been invited to display my collection, which consists of over 83,000 pieces of locally, found, self-collected seaglass. It should be fun!

DREAMING
mixed media / photography

How does your artwork relate to the theme of the show?  Dreaming reflects the theme Frame of Mind, both literally and emotionally. The richly textured surface creates a frame around the photograph of the piano, drawing the viewer into a quiet, intimate interior. For me, music can shift my frame of mind, carrying me beyond the present moment toward “faraway places and daring adventures.” The room itself—with its piano, artwork, warm light, and collected objects—also represents an aesthetic that feels deeply comforting and inspiring to me: a place where memory, imagination, and possibility come together.

What is the most important artist tool that you use in your practice?  The most important tool in my artistic practice is my camera. My original photographs often become the starting point for a piece, preserving a place, object, or moment that has captured my attention. I then build around the image with paint, texture, and found materials, allowing it to take on new meaning through layering and transformation.

Do you have any upcoming projects that you would like to share?  I’m thrilled to have been selected for the upcoming 50|50 Show. For this project, I will be creating a series of botanical monoprints using leaves, plants, layered paint, and mark-making techniques. This is a new medium for me, so the commitment to create 50 pieces in 50 days feels both exciting and challenging. I’m looking forward to experimenting, learning through repetition, and discovering how my interest in nature, texture, and layered surfaces develops across the series.