Artist Statement

I've always been connected to the sea. Since my very first painting classes, I concentrated on painting fish and other ocean life. Within a few years, I relocated from land-locked Dallas, TX, to the Atlantic side of Florida, and then to the Abacos in the Bahamas, where I spend eight months a year painting in my studio there.

I have evolved from fish to other sea life, to Bahamian fauna, to Bahamian life. I also "paint where I am" - mountain landscapes in Asheville, NC, blue crabs on the Chesapeake in Maryland, and Plein Aire paintings when I visit Europe.

So, my subject matter tends to be the visual prompts that surround where I am.

My first approach to my subject matter was to accurately depict the anatomy of sea life. Then I was compelled to paint those creatures in relationship to each other (schools, flocks, groups). After twenty years of painting, I'm finding myself concentrating on the actual act of applying paint onto the canvas, "filling in the holes" and "finding the colors that belong with each other" rather than painting fish fins and turtle shells. I'm currently struggling with painting "unified" paintings using my favorite subject matter and focusing on the contrast of light/dark, color composition, and drama on the canvas.

Why conservation is important to me

I live on a rugged island situated in the middle of the bluest waters on the planet. I've been connected to underwater creatures since before I could remember. It breaks my heart when I dive the reefs here and see the damaged reefs and unhealthy fish. The only thing I can think of to do is to try and capture this disappearing wildlife to make people AWARE of their existence on the planet.