"Magnetism" Painting

I was born in London, England in 1943. I lived in Canada in the early 60s for 6 years and later in Brazil for 25 years. I am married to Gerry Murray, an American and am a mother of 5 children.London introduced me to the best of the arts and is where I acquired my love for the arts. Being surrounded with endless museums and galleries I was able to learn and appreciate different styles and techniques.In Canada I learned one of the most important lessons in life, the value of friendship, I went through some very hard times in Canada, and my friends stuck beside me through thick and thin and I will never forget their loyalty and support.It was in Brazil that the vivacious colours and the zest for living, that are the hallmark of Brazilian painters, captivated me. There I got to know some of the artists and learned about their techniques and their use of colour. I was greatly influenced by Portinari, Di Cavalcante, Mabe and Fukushima.In 1993 I moved to the States and began painting seriously. I studied at the Sarasota County Technical Institute, the Ringling School of Art and the Triad Art Educational Program under the direction of Kevin Costello. Franz Kline, Jackson Pollock and William de Kooning are the artists who most influenced me in the States.I am a mother of five children and my continuing theme "Save the Family" is inspired by my strong feelings for the need to keep a cohesive family unit. I believe that the family is the most important element in our lives. Through my artwork I wish to encourage people to become aware of the importance of love, the responsibility of marriage, pregnancy and bringing up children, security, the ability to interact with others, the importance of education, commitment and the acceptance of death. I also address the not so pleasant side of family life such as vices, rape, divorce and death. My desire is to communicate the knowledge of how we need to start with our family unit and continue into wider communities, the city, our country, and last but not least, the world.Painting is my form of expression about life around me. The endless number of materials available to use is challenging. Ideas are nonstop; time does not allow all of them to be expressed. Painting is my way of describing our present day culture in all its many different forms. My love is abstraction and impressionism, through which I try to create the intangible.