We were apart for several years, and this painting is about our shyness at reconciliation. Recently, I had a torn retina, and my eyesight was impacted, but not permanently. The yellow flash from my eye represents that significant experience. I was afraid about both vision and sex.

My inner child and young adult selves come from preservation of my true spirit through trauma as both an adult and child. My inner child is joyful about John while my young adult self comes from dark, injured sources. Blue roses on the figure on the far left signify Tennessee William's themes in "The Glass Menagerie." I am going for a more dramatic, baroque ground, as it sets the mood.
I love you, John

I made this sketch from a photograph my Mom gave me of all of us around her when I was in middle school. I had a big smile on my face when that picture was taken, so I translated the expression to my painting. I am making an effort going forward to create expressive portraits to convey happiness, love, and joy. I think people need more of it.

Double Self-Portrait about internal mother and younger girl, just after getting married. The girl is intimidated, but the mother wants the promise of mature marriage symbolized by the couple in the painting on the wall.

I’m holding my wedding bouquet which fell apart after the honeymoon, and my white dress spread out into a puddle on the floor. The images are put together to make the interior contain the exterior world, as there is not much difference between what happens inside our hearts because of our environments and the people in them.

I am myself twice in one red dress. I began a new stage in my life, by getting engaged a few weeks before my sister committed suicide. So, I painted, and painted about her, but now it's about me even if the painting brings up me, her or both of us.

Love, Life, and Growth. The tight space allows for an interpretation of closeness, or sticking together. A young couple trusts each other.

Wedding dancers in North Haven, an island near Rockland, Maine. Celebrating young love.

Standing on a carpet and trying on dresses for the special upcoming occasion while my husband gives his opinion.

Wishes and losses are continuing themes in my work. The large orange spot on the upper left is alludes to a photo of my sister, all covered up. The painting on the right shows my older brother, also lost at a young age. I'm in my room looking at a flower. My process is intuitive and I start with a few marks, in this case the bed and dresser. Rough and unfinished is the overall effect, even though I want more precision, but that only happens with bigger paintings. I make them quickly and I try to keep a new composition for each painting as variety keeps me interested.

Based on a trip to Johns Hopkins hospital in Baltimore, MD a few years ago, I painted the trepidation and sadness I feel when I think of how pervasive my mental illness has touched every part of my life--even having breakfast in the hotel courtyard I hear voices. Looking back I can't remember what they say. Now, I'm conquering them.

John's Shadow Self
2025
acrylic on canvas
18" x 24"
I'm interested in more complex compositions that show relationship between people and environment. I want the viewer to take a second look and feel something. While I was painting the shoulder by using just one line, I remembered my shoulder was pulled out of socket in high school. I hadn't thought about it for a long time, but it came back to me just as I painted the line.

I interpreted a classic subject of a couple about to kiss only with eyes open, cautious.