I have drawn and painted my whole life and, while my work is characterized by lively composition, my approach varies with medium and mood. I strive to create works with visual appeal and technical quality and am motivated by the world around me - our woodlands in our own backyard, for example - and by ideas and reflections (like most artists, I am a daydreamer!). I love to add texture to my work and explore a variety of ways to do so - sand, tissue, spackle. I'm as apt to use a brush as a palette knife, and even an old credit card. I work primarily in acrylic, oils and pastels.

Below are some current pieces you will find at our Studio, or at ArtScene Spencerville, of which Tom and I are founding members. Depending on the nature of the piece, it may be framed or simply have museum-quality canvas edges painted. Frames, if used, are included in the pricing. Tom has used stained pine frames with matte for pastels, rough cut cedar for some pieces.

The paintings below called "First Snow' represent a day's tour around our Spencerville area on the first snow, December 2010. I snapped photos of any interesting images I found on that day. The Lawless Farm painting is a scene I saw driving down Cty Rd. 44 one early November morning, the ominous dawn sky dominating the landscape. I love the achromatic palette of early winter!

Here you will see a variety of approaches. What I may lack in consistent style I hope I make up in enthusiasm and verve!

Pastels get their beauty from their crystalline qualities when applied. I love pastel for it's combination of drawing and painting, and rich colour.