Artist Statement
The magic of the visual world has always been my favorite realm. Even as a child, I sought out every big and little visual event as I went through my day. In response to the gems of nature and daily life, I mostly draw and paint on site and in real time, never to freeze any moment in time, but to be in on it for a while.
Spending time on Monhegan Island with its storied history is what ushered me into plein air painting. Sketching and painting out in nature harkens back to my early memories of exploring in the woods and being outside all the time. I soon discovered that working in pastels is very direct and allows me to indulge my love of both drawing and vivid color.
Though representational at the core, my images are neither literal nor particularly faithful. A picture evolves after much scrutiny as to what’s worth including and letting go of what might distract from the essence of the scenario.
Observation, memory, and imagination steer my course while I rely on bold color, authentic gesture, and extensive editing. Even when I feel a painting is “done,” parts of the beginning drawing stage are still visible. This is my way of saying it’s ongoing, it’s not the end. I want to leave room to imagine what might happen next, expand on the moment, and invite you to be in on it for a while, too.
BIO
I’m an artist who works outside, in the studio, on the go, and in the moment. I make pastel paintings, prints and drawings of nature and daily life.
I treat the everyday as exceptional through vivid color, expressive drawing and personal insights into the varied subjects that I encounter.
My history with the arts began with my artisan-rich family where craft, music and poetry were household staples. I grew up bonding with the natural world, exploring woods and shorelines in Connecticut, New York, and Massachusetts.
I received a BA in Art from Colby College in 1976 and then spent a year immersed in the art swirl of New York City where I indulged in its array of offerings: Off Off Broadway, SoHo artists’ loft shows (now we call them “pop-ups”), the Art Students League and every museum and gallery. I followed up with my MFA in Sculpture from the University of Pennsylvania in 1981. I moved to Maine in 1982 and taught sculpture, drawing and design at the University of Southern Maine until 1987.
Taking a new tack, I co-founded the celebrated decorative painting company, Ralff & Sons, traveling locally and nationwide working for commercial and private clients for twenty years. In grad school I had always envied my friends who were painters, so this deep foray into paint, color and design played a part in a turn toward painting in my personal art practice.
I started painting with pastels, en plein air, over twenty years ago. I’ve shown my work at Ocean House Gallery and Frame, Elizabeth Moss Gallery, Dark Harbor Gallery, the Islesboro Historical Society, Art House Picture Frames, the University of New England Biddeford Campus Center and the Saco Library.
I’m still on the trail with sketchbook and easel on nature preserves and roadsides in Maine, across the U.S. and around the world.