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Lake Piseco 2 {large size} Media: Acrylic Dimensions: 12 x 16 Completed: 2013 Comments: |
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Little Sand {large size} Media: Acrylic Dimensions: 12 x 16 Completed: 2013 Comments: My husband and I have camped at Lake Piseco a number of times, each time at the Little Sand campsite. While the beauty of the lake itself is undeniable, one of my favorite aspects of the campsite and the surrounding area is the rich woodland. At our site there is an old pine tree between the lake and the camping area. The roots of the tree are blanketed in moss, like in the painting. It's this image, of moss, pine needles, bark, stones and saplings that stir up some of the strongest memories in me of the Adirondacks. This image, to me, best captures the smells, textures, light and shadow and overall liveliness of the forest. I started painting this using my travel easel and trying to get as much down in paint as possible. I took photos of the scene and was able to finish the details of the painting at home. Those hours painting next to Lake Piseco during summer in the Adirondacks were some of the most peaceful and rewarding hours I experienced on that trip. If you haven't had the pleasure of camping on Lake Piseco, I highly recommend it. |
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Peterborough {large size} Media: Acrylic Dimensions: 24 x 30 Completed: 2012 Comments: For our first year dating anniversary, my now-husband and I went on a trip to Peterborough, Ontario. Our room led directly onto an amazing courtyard below street level made entirely of red brick and stone. Plants lined the walls of the courtyard with ivy climbing up the walls. Each morning, we drank our coffee surrounded by beautiful ivy in a wonderful city. I considered adding other elements to the painting, like insects or more surreal topics, but it seemed insincere. This scene is a very focused and miniscule part of our trip, but the color contrast is something I now always attribute to that city and that time. |
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Swamp {large size} Media: Acrylic Dimensions: 60 x 48 Completed: 2011 Comments: This painting began as a sketch I did in 2002. The concept was originally a commentary on the degradation of the family unit and the swamp contained more murky water and an overall sense of decay. As I got older, I became more optimistic about family, but still saw that a lot of progress needed to be made. As a result, I kept the living room set in the swamp, but I opted for the fresh growth of spring in lieu of the decay I had first planned to use. The greens have a large amount of yellow in them to better represent the young plant life of spring. I also decided to show a break in the clouds, indicating an end to stormy times. This painting took a long time to finish. I was most frustrated by the couch and I most enjoyed painting the bushes. I think the small pillow came out the best. |
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Matrimony {large size} Media: Acrylic Dimensions: 10 x 8 Completed: 2011 Comments: I made this painting to celebrate my upcoming nuptials. I played Life as a kid, like many people, but I cannot recall ever winning. I would blame my losses on the accumulation of costly spouse and children pegs and would, inevitably, start dropping pegs out of my plastic car as I crossed over plastic bridges. I was incredibly excited about getting married and even more excited about the man I would be spending the rest of my life with, so I decided to show that by finally accepting that extra peg in the little plastic car of my life. |
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Matt at the Reception {large size} Media: Acrylic Dimensions: 16 x 20 Completed: 2009 Comments: I was the designated driver for a bunch of guys at a wedding reception. While there, I had an insane amount of coffee and started to get fidgety. Thankfully, I had brought a travel watercolor set and a small sketch book. I did a quick sketch of Matt sitting at the table. In the sketch, he looked sadder than the painting, kind of contemplative. I transferred the image to acrylic and in doing so, ended up making Matt look bored. I seem to have shaped his eyebrows for him, too. |
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They Got Divorced {large size} Media: Acrylic Dimensions: 12 x 16 Completed: 2008 Comments: This painting came from a sketch I made while at a friend's house. She, her husband and I were having coffee in their sunroom. I sketched the table and mugs while we chatted. At the end of our breakfast, they fought over relatively trivial things. They later divorced, but for a period of time, they shared breakfast at a small table and allowed their coffee cups to be close together. |
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Lake Piseco {large size} Media: Acrylic Dimensions: 10 x 8 Completed: Comments: I based this painting on a photo I took with my husband while camping at Lake Piseco in the Adirondacks. The clouds were coming in but the afternoon was still very warm, so we decided to wade in the lake. This was our first camping trip together and it was one of the most memorable trips of my life. Trying to capture that feeling of joy, wonderment and growing love was nearly impossible, but I think I managed to show some of the contentedness that I felt. |
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Feet On The Couch {large size} Media: Acrylic Dimensions: 16 x 12 Completed: Comments: I tried to portray that feeling of whimsy you get when you're snuggling on the couch, fighting over the blanket and playing footsie. So much of a happy relationship is rooted in the small things, the quiet smiles, the silly moments and fun. |
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I ♥ Campaign Finance Reform {large size} Media: Acrylic Dimensions: 18 x 24 Completed: Comments: I have become more and more frustrated with the way that special interest groups, lobbyists and huge corporations can buy politicians and buy legislation. Insanely rich people who appear to have no interest in government other than manipulating it so they can become even more insanely rich. This painting was meant to reflect that frustration and highlight those purchasing groups. |
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Apartment Window {large size} Media: Acrylic Dimensions: 16 x 20 Completed: Comments: During one of those weird days when there are dark clouds, rain showers and sun all at once, the light that came through my apartment window was amazing. I tried to replicate that afternoon as accurately as possible with this painting. |
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Big Blue {large size} Media: Acrylic Dimensions: 60 x 48 Completed: 2008 Comments: This painting is an update of a drawing I did in college with a more modern and practical feel. The drawing featured a barefoot girl in a dress standing at the edge of a slow moving creek in the moonlight. It was meant to capture the sense of nostalgia we all experience, the idealized way we remember parts of our youth and the eventual loss of innocence. As an adult, I decided to focus on the energy and excitement of youth. The girl is on tiptoe not in preparation of a jump, but to create the potential of the moment. In this precise second, she is balanced, and an image of grace. In the next second, she will either come back down to the ground safely, or she'll stumble forward. The girl is now wearing jeans because I had to get rid of the dress. As someone who loves camping and hiking, a dress just seemed more and more ridiculous. |
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Defending the Homeland; Easter '97 {large size} Media: Water Color Dimensions: Completed: 1997 Comments: This painting began as an experiment in using watercolors. The sky was the first component and the rippling pastels defined the rest of the image. I always associate pastels with springtime, so an incorporation of an Easter theme seemed natural. I like the idea of an innocent, human event, like a picnic, somehow interfering on a fantasy setting, which is why an interrupted picnic is stationed on the left side of the painting. The bunnies are swarming out of their stronghold to remove the picnicking threat and secure their homeland. This painting was fun to work on and helped me channel the sense of whimsy I happened to be feeling at that time. |
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Jolt {large size} Media: Acrylic Dimensions: 21 x 24 Completed: 1996 Comments: This was my first foray into acrylics as part of a class assignment. The painting was laid out with shades of brown. Some of the textures were achieved using my fingers and a paper towel. At that point in my life, I loved Jolt Cola and took great pleasure in showing Jolt completely dominating the other mainstream sodas. Everyone loves an underdog, and Jolt seemed like a perfect example of a little known product with a bit of a cult following. The design of the can was beautiful, with bold colors and a crisp and exciting look. Thankfully, I was fortunate enough to experience Jolt when it still had this amazingly simple yet effective design. |