Me at Keilder Water Birds of Prey Centre, Northumberland, England
I have worked as a full time zookeeper and raised countless animals of my own, my favorite thing is to be hiking with a sketchbook learning about nature! I have a BA in Art from Buffalo State, teaching experience grades k-12 and adults, I’ve studied at the Academy of Realist Art in Toronto, Canada and have illustrated for Nature Centers, books and a cd album cover.
For three years I worked as Co-Director at the Museum of European Art in Clarence NY where I helped to introduce upcoming local and international artists to the community. While I was here I developed a friendship with Dr. Wilson Greatbatch, inventor of the implantable pacemaker, that inspired me to pursue my love of painting. He believes as I do in teaching others, especially young people, about the fascinating world around us! I painted his portrait as you can see here.
Dr. Wilson Greatbatch and I pose with the portrait I painted of him while I was Co-Director of the Museum of European Art.
It was after working here that I focused my attention on my own painting and getting back to my love of working with nature, my first true passion!
I enjoy traveling and studying the local nature where I visit, I spent many weeks in 2008 in England then months in 2009, taking notes and doing painting and sketches in the field. I then moved to England and now live in Scotland, there is so much to be inspired by here!
I have also learned the fascinating art of Needle Felting and love creating characters, small detailed sculptures, many of which I design on a wire armiture so they can be posed. I love the colors, texture and the magic of it changing in your hands to a new form! I hope you follow my journey as I explore this and create new character that inspire me!
Most important is now I’m focusing my attention on illustrating the children’s stories and poems I’ve been writing over the years. I have so many stories to do and the poems just keep coming! Now I have to catch up with drawing and painting the characters, no easy task! Sometimes my needle felted characters inspire me too, it all ties together in my world! What I show in the Gallery or on the blog is just the tip of the iceberg, as most I won’t show until I get them properly published…but gosh I’m dying to share them, so I’ll get busy and try to finish them!
For prints, note cards and gift items with my art or photos on them visit my Zazzle Shop. I’m working on putting PayPal links on some items so you can buy them directly from me.
Contact me to inquire about originals, ask questions about my art or just to introduce yourself.
News – Here’s what’s New (and old!) Most up to date information really is on my BLOG, please visit there and you can look back through the archives.
Art Exhibitions Upcoming and past exhibitions and events I’ve been in, click to visit page.
News Articles News Articles about my work, click to visit page.
My Equipment Here you’ll find pictures and descriptions of the materials I use to create my work.
My Recommended Books or Favorites Art Business, Art ‘How To’ , Nature Field Guides…
Groups / Organization I’ve belonged to over the years:
Association of Miniature Artists ( http://www.miniatureartist.com )
Buffalo Society of Artists- Buffalo, NY, USA
Coquetdale Arts Centre- Rothbury, Northumberland England. ( www.coquetdale.org.uk )
Buffalo Ornithological Society
New York State Bluebird Society
Portrait Society of America
Kenneth Grahame Society (http://www.kennethgrahamesociety.net/index.htm) You know…”The Wind in the Willows”, One of my favorite stories!