Artist Statement

Seeing a sunset and painting it on site is not the same as painting in my studio. The emotional connection is very real in an outdoor setting. To hear the frogs by a lake, to feel the crisp Minnesota air, to bask in the sunshine, and to touch the waving grasses, all make my creativity soar. This is why I paint in watercolor and acrylic outdoors.

I love making a mark with graphite bars or wax resist. When I begin I might use a votive candle to randomly draw into the watercolor paper, This process makes lines that resist the paint. Or I might just play with color. Then, I use a large brush for a watery sky. My palette knife or my fingernail make marks in the wet paint. These marks form grasses in the foreground or birch trees in the background. Or for a real challenge, I do an entire work of art with a credit card or palette knife.

This year I have used permanent ink to create drawings.

I enjoy the process of making marks. All of my senses are used in my art making process.