I am a working artist, art instructor and published author.
My preferred artistic language is line though I am also a printmaker. Drawing communicates directly with viewers, often more quickly and intuitively than speech. My drawings focus on simplification, abstraction and exaggeration to facilitate design and flow of line; moving away from the representational to focus on beauty of line. The subject evokes the inspiration to put the line on paper.
Foci of my drawings are: Studies of gesture and related contour; Relationships between subjects in a drawing; Reduction of subjects to one or a few lines (edited line); Interplay of interesting lines, overlapping lines; Variations within lines.
I work primarily with ink and graphite creating lines and their variations, sometimes using conté or adding color to benefit the composition. Subjects of drawings are living things, plants and animals, wild and domestic, and the human figure. Subject descriptions are simplified to a few lines describing gesture, action and connection with others in the drawing. I draw animal portraits; also animal, horticultural and human subjects that inspire line creation. I create the drawings with reductive line, using the line's variation and flow. In some drawings a major line or lines is/are supported by secondary lines defining the subject. Recently I have also been making paper cut pieces, using color-contrasting papers as part of the design.
My works are exhibited and sold through commissions, solo, group, juried, club, and gallery collective exhibitions, also art rental and sale programs. They hang in collections in Scandinavia, Great Britain, China, the USA and Canada.
Original art works plus reproductions and cards of my work are sold in Castlegar at Catherine White’s shop Yes Please, also in Penticton at the Arts Council shop.
As an art instructor I teach Drawing, Poster Design for Scientists, Art Appreciation for University, College, Art Gallery, Night School, Arts Council, Community Center and private students.
My book, "Butterflies and Butterfly Gardening in the Pacific Northwest" is sold at the shop Yes Please in Castlegar, Penticton Art Gallery's shop, Penticton and District Arts Council’s office, also in Salmon Arm at Buckerfield’s and Bookingham Palace Bookstore.
Grants: I have received grants from the Columbia Kootenay Cultural Alliance, to create art collections; the most recent collection was inspired by the song "You've Got to be Carefully Taught", from the film "South Pacific".
Exhibitions include:
Exhibitions and Events separate from annual participations:
2021/22:
2019:
2018:
2017:
2016:
2015:
2014:
2013:
As an Art Instructor I teach through galleries, for university and college courses, (for both credit and continuing education), for school board night schools including as a coordinator, also for Arts Council classes, recreation centers, community centers and privately.
I wrote and illustrated my book "Butterflies and Butterfly Gardening in the Pacific Northwest". Some photographs are mine. 6 others contributed pictures. This book is sold through the outlets mentioned above.
I also wrote, illustrated and published a cookbook.