Base Rising Painting

When I was a very young artist, I discovered the Japanese Edo period at the Freer Gallery in Washington, DC. I was drawn to something in works by Tawaraya Sōtatsu. It was the technique known as Tarashikomi—a dripping of pigment into a partially dried area that allows the pigment to disperse into the first layer, creating an ephemeral effect that is both random and confined. I had been doing this since childhood, painting an area with water, and then dripping color into it. I was thrilled to see what I had thought a rebellious “playing” was an honored technique from one of the most disciplined schools (Rinpa) of the Edo period. About the same time I discovered the abstract expressionism of Paul Jenkins and the Washington Color School masters: Morris Louis, and the still fabulous Sam Gilliam. Throughout the years, I’ve earned a degree in Studio Art from the University of Maryland, and graduate credits in the Art Therapy Program at the George Washington University. Through coursework and self-teaching I have gained skills in every area of painting, printmaking, drawing and even steel sculpture. During and since my studies I have provided arts instruction to students from pre-school to adult level, with all levels of ability, in both classroom and studio settings ranging from public and private schools to county recreation departments, day care facilities, and nursing homes in the Washington Metropolitan Area (1985-Present). The courses I offer include drawing, painting, sculpture, fiber-arts, printmaking, papermaking and paper construction, puppetry, mask making, and costumes. Within these I tailor courses to offer multi-cultural themes, coordinate arts activities and workshops to complement the standard curriculum, including collaborative projects designed to enhance core academic subjects in public and private schools.