Artist statement

My life is surrounded by rescues and the nature around me. Recently I lost my Mom and it was a wake up call for me. Changing things around me that I have endured silently was my number one goal. I finally figured out the people in my family I had cared for many years did not really love me at all. You can choose your friends. You cannot choose your family. So, I set out to do just that by remodeling the house I was the contractor for many years ago. Mom would love what I have done too. It all started with a closet centered around her and her favorite color, pink. I spared no expense for her halo light and the ceiling color is a pale pink with the back wall my favorite color, blue. The lady at the funeral home told me she was buried in a pink casket wearing a blue dress. If you wish to read how my family did not even tell me she was sick or that she died, there is link at the bottom of this page.

The first time I spoke with this company's owner, I was on the way to her grave and I cried thru the entire call. My house remodel is in memory of her. She did without things her entire life to make other people happy. I will no longer do that. I am making Kym happy. I am also buying pretty clothes and especially dresses to wear. Mom loved me in dresses. 

MORE LATER

I am concerned about the chemicals that are in the mediums for oils. I use the old-fashioned method, never using cadmium or cobalt, fast or slow dry mediums and I use safe cleaners, walnut oils, and oil of spike lavender which makes the studio smell really nice. I chose walnut-based oils that dry slower than linseed oils and they do not yellow as badly. 

My oils are painted on linen, the most recent ones are strictly on portrait linen. I never use cotton. They are stretched on deep gallery strips with braces mounted to the strips to keep the linen tight. 

My paintings are a reflection of my life. I try to project positive things and in the end, it shows in that final painting.