Study for Dia de los Muertos series painting #23 Drawing

I began painting when I was about 13 and sold my seascapes right on the beaches of California. Now, I live near Santa Fe, New Mexico and, sometimes, sell my paintings right off my easel when I paint plen aire along the road. I've lived in Central America and Eastern Europe where I worked as a journalist and photojournalist. But, painting has always been my passion. When I'm not painting, I play harp professionally, much of it for hospice patients. Music has also been a big part of my life since I was a little girl. I play several other instruments to an advanced level. It's influence is evident in my artwork. For painting, I'm drawn to that nebulous quality of light that the Land of Enchantment is famous for--trying to capture it in paint is like trying to catch a moonbeam. My life and work is about celebration. The incredible beauty and variations of the human form also speaks deeply to me; and, as a colorist, I have a special fascination with the phenomena of not using any "flesh" tones but stacking up color to fool the eye into seeing "flesh-color." My contemporary influences are Phillip Pearlstein, Chuck Close, Lucien Freud, Jerome Witkin, Steve Hanks, Fernando Botero, Jenny Saville and Angus MacPherson. Many of my pieces have social commentary or humor embedded into them. I also prefer my art to show the evidence of my hand and touch. I love to paint large and in series. My work is in collections in Tokyo, Toronto, England, Laguna Beach, Washington, D.C, Seattle and Spokane, Washington, to name a few. I've been featured on calendars and magazines with a worldwide circulation . I'm a member of the Rio Grande Art Association. Three of my paintings are currently under consideration for purchase for the New Mexico State Permanent Collection. Please contact me for private painting commissions. Thanks for taking the time to view my work. Enjoy!