"Hitoe’s Gift" Collage

It is no secret, I have always loved the fragrance and color of fresh cut flowers. There is something about the sight of a bouquet of flowers that seems to melt cares away. Food items, a loaf of bread, cheese and fruit are beautiful to me.

I was born in Hollywood, California. As a young child, I was surrounded by creativity. My dear father was an award-winning television film editor. Two aunts were accomplished painters. I grew up in a home full of love and was taught to have an appreciation for the simple things in life. I was totally surrounded by beauty. Much of my time as a child was spent with my mother, father and younger brother at the home of my favorite aunt and uncle. It was on nature walks with my uncle that I first developed my special affinity for flowers. Watching my aunt prepare artistic meals gave me an appreciation for the beauty of food.

I attended San Francisco State College during the height of the Hippie Movement in the late 1960’s. It exposed me to many creative, free spirited, talented people. I was drawn to these people, never realizing that I had any talent of my own.

I AM A SELF-TAUGHT ARTIST.

On a chance trip to a beautiful house set in the middle of a forest, I first tried my hand at painting. I bought a simple watercolor set and a sketch pad to amuse myself while my companions went off on their own. After many attempts to paint pictures of the pine trees, I gave up in frustration and put the paints away thoroughly convinced I didn’t have any talent for this.

Upon returning home though, surrounded by my beautiful floral arrangements, I decided to try to paint again. Something clicked! COLOR was the answer and I couldn’t put the brush down. For months I painted simple florals using bold and vibrant colors. My first painting, “Purple Bouquet”, which sold to a private collector, was an abstract floral watercolor.

I am self-taught. Over the years I have developed my own unique style. Experimenting with different mediums has produced four distinct periods of work. I take the ordinary and try to make it extraordinary. It’s how I like to view the world.

I believe my work continues to be fresh and interesting, passionate, subtle and visually complex. I have been told that my work combines a sense of sophisticated flamboyance with innocence.

Still life, flowers, my treasured teapot, ceramic and perfume bottle collections are my prime motifs.