Lives in: McLean, Virginia

Social Media: Instagram

Media and subjects: Oil. Mostly still life but plein air when I can pull it off.

Why you joined MAA: To connect with other artists who are still learning and to take advantage of educational opportunities.

Something fun about you: I clearly didn’t read the course details for my first drawing class. When I showed up for the second class I honestly turned to the person sitting next to me and asked, “Who’s that guy over there and why is he wearing a bathrobe?” Turns out my first experience with a nude model was quite unexpected!

Artist Biography: It wasn’t until about fifteen years ago that I finally had time to take my first art class. I started with a drawing class figuring that I should begin by getting a few basics down. After that I dabbled in acrylics and then settled firmly on oils. I was working as a nurse practitioner and launching three kids into their adult lives at the time so never had more than a few hours a week to paint. Those few hours were golden though-I couldn’t think about anything except what I was trying paint. Excellent stress reduction therapy!

Classes at the Art League in Old Town Alexandria and The Yellow Barn at Glen Echo helped me to develop an appreciation for all the elements that make a painting “work.” I had the opportunity to travel to Châteauneuf-de-Gadagne, France in 2019 with a wonderful teacher from the Art League. We stayed in an actual castle, drank amazing wine every night and painted outdoors for six days. It was a transformative experience. More recently I took master copy classes with another amazing teacher at the Art League. Copying works by Chardin, van Aelst, and Cézanne challenged me more than anything I’ve ever done and really helped me grow. I’m now hopelessly hooked. Like my fellow MAA members, I can’t look at a gorgeous sunset or weathered old boathouse without imagining how I would paint it. Everything in the world around me is fair game for a canvas and that makes my little corner of the world a calmer and better place.