About the Artist
I find most of my ideas by being outdoors. I develop what I have seen and experienced into a painting to express a feeling or share some beauty. Sometimes, the way light falls on the land suggests an emotion that I recreate in a painting. Other times, I'll suggest a story in the way subjects are arranged in a scene. My paintings explore a deeply felt connection to nature-- and hopefully elicit that connection in the viewer.
I have been involved in the arts all my life. I spent 30 years as an illustrator of award-winning picture books that celebrate the human-animal bond. Several years ago I returned to oil painting and began painting outdoors. Whether in the field or in the studio, the subjects I choose to paint are about empathy for nature and animals.
If my work sparks a feeling or new perspective for you, I'd love to hear from you. Sign up for my occasional newsletter to hear about my latest paintings, shows, classes or other fun art-related things I'm doing!
A recent story about my paintings
Click here for article about my work
Curriculum Vitae
Fine artist, 2007-present
Drawing and painting instructor, 2011-present
Picture book illustrator, 1987-2022
Art Director, Korshak Hensley & Assoc., Houston TX, 1983-1987
Education
Maryland Institute, College of Art: B.F.A. Illustration/Design, 1983
with study at:
Parsons School of Design, NYC (Children’s Book Illustration, Typography)
Temple University Abroad, Rome, Italy (Painting, graphic design, art history)
Workshop study starting in 2007 with the following internationally known artists:
Rob Liberace, Steven Assael, Jeff Hein, Mary Whyte, Michelle Dunaway, Susan Lyon, David Kassan, Katherine Stone
Press
American Art Collector, May 2020
Along Magazine, Summer 2019
Bristol artist to exhibit work at Wood Library
Nancy Lane :Her Real Life Story in Pictures, Life In The Finger Lakes Magazine, 8/2016
Canandaigua Magazine, Fall 2011: "This is Art Country"
Awards
2026 Best in Show, Clifton Springs (NY) Plein Air Competition
2022 People's Choice Award, Letchworth State Park Exhibit, The Village Gallery, Caledonia, NY
2022 Outstanding Watercolor, International BoldBrush Painting Competition, February
2020 Finalist, Out of the Box, Portrait Society of America Members Competition
2020 Best of Show, Arts Center of Yates County (NY) National Juried Exhibition
2020 Rochester Art Supply Award, Rochester Art Club Signature Member Exhibition
2019 Finalist, Non-commissioned portrait, Portrait Society of America Members Competition
2019 Best of Show Award, Rochester Art Club Signature Member Exhibition
2021, 2022, 2024, 2025, 2026 Juror Awards, Rochester Art Club Signature Member Exhibition
2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2026 Juror Award, Genesee Valley Plein Air Painters
2017 Best Of Show Award, Rochester Art Club Member Exhibition
2017 Arts Center of Yates County Juried Show – Mark & Deb Malcolm Award, Third Place Painting
2015, 2022 Juror’s Award, Rochester Art Club Member Exhibition
2013, 2018, 2019. 2023 Merit Award, Rochester Art Club Member Exhibition
2011 Second Place, Women Artists of the Finger Lakes Show
Exhibitions
Solo exhibit, 2026, Knapp Winery, Romulus, NY
Solo exhibit, 2024, The Cheshire Union, Canandaigua, NY
Solo exhibit, 2023, Faircraft Bauhaus, Fairport, NY
Solo exhibit, 2022, Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art, Millersburg, PA
Solo exhibit, 2022, 1570 Gallery at Valley Manor, Rochester, NY
American Women Artists "Making Their Mark" exhibition, 2020, Booth Western Art Museum, Cartersville, GA
American Women Artists Spring Online Juried Exhibition, 2020
Solo exhibit, 2020, My Sister's Gallery, Rochester, NY
Portrait Society of America 2019 Members Only Competition
Bausch & Lomb, 2019, Rochester, NY
Richeson International Figurative Exhibition 2016, 2018
Adirondacks National Exhibition of American Watercolors, 2018, Old Forge, NY
Solo exhibit, 2018, Wood Library, Canandaigua, NY
Solo exhibit, 2018, Naples Library, Naples, NY
Flick Gallery, 2017, Arts Center of Yates County, NY
Adirondacks National Exhibition of American Watercolors, Old Forge, NY, 2016
New Country: Ruralism in Contemporary Art, 2014, Claypool-Young Art Gallery, Morehead, KY
Solo exhibit, 2011, Wood Library, Canandaigua NY
Rochester Art Club’s Fall and Spring shows, 2013 - present
Genesee Valley Plein Air Painters Annual Show, 2015, 2016, 2018-present
Annual Women Artists of the Finger Lakes, 2011- 2013
Affiliations
Rochester Art Club, Rochester, NY
Genesee Valley Plein Air Painters
Book Awards
2024 Skipping Stones Honor Award for promoting multicultural awareness and appreciation of nature
2023 Riverby Award for excellence in natural history from the John Burroughs Association
2012 Moonbeam Children’s Book Silver Award, Best Picture Book, Ages 4-8 from Independent Publishers
2010 Language Learner Literature Award, Young Learner category
from The Extensive Reading Foundation
2009 KIND Children’s Book Award, Youth Division, from The Humane Society
2009 Henry Bergh Children’s Book Honor Award in Fiction, Companion Animals category
from American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
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