Studio Journal

Finding My Way in the Art World After Raising Four Children
Finding My Way in the Art World After Raising Four Children
After raising four children, the house grew quiet. One day I found myself looking at the walls. They felt unfinished. Not because they needed another coat of paint. Because they... Read more...
Timeless Everyday Realism: Mary Cassatt’s Breakfast in Bed and Its Enduring Appeal
Timeless Everyday Realism: Mary Cassatt’s Breakfast in Bed and Its Enduring Appeal
Some paintings make us stop because of their skill. Others make us stop because they remind us of someone we love. Mary Cassatt's Breakfast in Bed (1897) is one of those... Read more...
Long Before I Picked Up A Paintbrush
Long Before I Picked Up A Paintbrush
Certain paintings stayed with me. The sweet illustrations of Bessie Pease Gutmann. The everyday stories of Norman Rockwell. They weren't dramatic. Nothing out of the ordinary was happening. Read more...
Art That Makes You Pause
Art That Makes You Pause
There was a time when people expected art to hold their attention. It wasn't just decoration. It was chosen to be lived with. Part of everyday life.  Long before television... Read more...
What Triggers That Nostalgic Feeling?
What Triggers That Nostalgic Feeling?
Sometimes it's the smallest detail. For me, it was a little boy trying to get his toe into a bucket of soapy water. Not the bucket. Not the bubbles.   Read more...
Why I Enjoy Painting Large
Why I Enjoy Painting Large
When I first began painting, I naturally reached for large canvases. Later, I challenged myself to paint smaller. My Boy Meets Girl series is mostly 16 × 16 inches, with... Read more...