Artist

My interest in watercolour started when I was very young. Throughout the years I have explored other media, but nothing moves like watercolour. Sometimes it seems as if I just put the wet brush on paper, and it does the rest. I love that.

          After I retired form being an English and Gifted Seminar teacher, I began taking watercolour lessons. e. jean lanyon was not only a great teacher, but also a mentor. I learned the basics and the philosophy of painting from her. We are both also poets, which plays a part in our artwork. We paint with feeling.

          I trained in botanical illustration with Carol Gangemi at Longwood Gardens. She took my painting to new heights. She dispelled many myths about the art. For example, mistrokes do not necessarily ruin a watercolour painting. In come cases you can lift it out. Other times, you can work it into the painting like you meant it to be there.

            I like to capture moments in nature, like a cardinal sitting among snow tipped bamboo leaves or leaves as they fall from the trees. I am known for “wandering” around the Ardens. I take a little sketch book and paints and look for something original, unusual, of a certain color, or just pretty. That’s not hard to do in the Ardens!