When I study the elements or watch the birds, I feel as if I become part of nature. It makes me want to paint, to play with color, to express the living vibration of things- to somehow touch the awesome mystery of it all. This experience inspires and restores my spirit, and I want to share this feeling in painting- this sense of connection, of transformation.
I was fortunate to grow up surrounded by nature in a family of creative types- painters, musicians, architects, and writers. Religion was a lively friction of opposites- my mother's Trinity and Jesus and fellowship, and my dad's Bhagavad Gita, the Buddha, the lone seeker in the wilderness. Artistically I took refuge in my mother's passion- nature and bird study, and watercolor. Dad was a mathematician. His "religion" really was the power of numbers, the pure dry line of infinity as the true reality. But his real passion I think was music, and he played piano with an exuberant improvisational abandon.
I think from all these influences I came to love nature first and foremost and in painting the structured methodical approach. What a pleasure to render the visual facts of reality convincingly! And yet, I yearned for freedom too, to see beyond those facts. To dance with paint, to feel the creative force directly, to see the magic that made all this beauty in the first place.
I was ambitious, driven, full of imagination. The "what to paint" was never an issue. I self-taught with books and museums, and fixated on Surrealism, mysticism, Carlos Castaneda, the music of the '60s, the visionary album art of those times. My hero was the painter Mati Klarwein. A perennial painting theme came to me easily and naturally- I'd paint realistic and imagined landscapes, and combine them with archetypal figures that could symbolize a process of spiritual transformation.
Today I try to work in a way that satisfies my two basic impulses. I develop paintings from quick sketches, photographs, and more elaborate renderings which I transfer to a painting surface, and then methodically work up the image step by step. When I need relief, I just start troweling left-over paint on a blank panel without any preconceptions, and then push it around with my fingers and sponges and sprayers. As it dries I keep working it, and repeat the process with multiple layers. Eventually I start to see what it wants to become, and I shape it accordingly. Using quick drying watercolors or acrylics really helps in this method because I can react impulsively and intuitively and make wholesale changes or build up layers rapidly. I like to wipe away partially dried areas to reveal interesting textures and unforeseen forms.
My goal as a painter really is to be a conduit for some spark of magic to come through from outside myself, from the Spirit- something that I could never methodically work out ahead of time in a painting. Then I think the image could be powerful and might have a positive inspirational effect on the viewer, which is all I could ever hope for as the ultimate reward as an artist, that is has real value beyond currency.
Exhibits
2026 | Out of Storage & In The Closet group show of Loft artists, Storage Closet Gallery, Western Ave Studios & Lofts (Lowell MA)
2026 | Places of Serenity group show of Loft artists, Lofts Lobby Gallery, Western Ave Studios & Lofts (Lowell MA)
2026 | Other Work, As Assigned group show of Western Avenue staff, 2nd Floor Mini Gallery, Western Ave Studios & Lofts (Lowell MA)
2026 | First Saturday Open Studios studio display of artwork, Western Avenue Studios & Lofts (Lowell MA)
2025 | Vermont Vice a collaborative piece with Vanessa Compton Velvet D’Arrest included in a group show at the Bennington Museum (Bennington VT)
2025 | Solid Ground juried group show, 3rd & 5th Floor Mini Galleries, Western Ave Studios & Lofts (Lowell MA)
2025 | Water Marks juried group show, Nave Gallery (Somerville MA)
2025 | Western Ave :Artists At Work juried group show, Merrimac College’s McCoy Gallery (Andover MA)
2025 | First Saturday Open Studios studio display of artwork, Western Avenue Studios & Lofts (Lowell MA)
2025 | Artwork Exhibit display of prints, Dracut Access Television (Dracut MA)
2024 | First Saturday Open Studios studio display of artwork, Western Avenue Studios & Lofts (Lowell MA)
2024 | Progress-At Odds With Nature juried group show, Lofts Lobby Gallery, Western Ave Studios & Lofts (Lowell MA)
2024 | Artwork Exhibit group display of artwork, Ignis Arts Dance Studio (Billerica MA)
2023 | Art From The Other Side juried group show Lofts Lobby Gallery, Western Ave Studios & Lofts (Lowell MA)
2023 | Live-Work juried group show, 5Sparks Gallery (Harvard MA)
2023 | First Art Exhibit group show, Lowell Senior Center (Lowell MA)
2023 | Stored Away juried group show in a Western Ave Mini-Gallery, Western Ave Studios & Lofts (Lowell MA)
2023 | First Saturday Open Studios studio display of artwork, Western Avenue Studios & Lofts (Lowell MA)
2022 | MacBeth juried group show, Merrimack Reperatory Theater (Lowell MA)
2022 | First Saturday Open Studios & Outdoor Markets studio and outdoor display of artwork, Western Avenue Studios & Lofts (Lowell MA)
2021 | First Saturday Outdoor Markets outdoor display of artwork, Western Avenue Studios & Lofts (Lowell MA)
2021 | Live Studio Tour virtual tour of my studio on Facebook Live, Western Ave Studios & Lofts (Lowell MA)
2020 | Live Virtual Art Studio Tour virtual tour of my studio on Facebook Live, Western Ave Studios & Lofts (Lowell MA)
2020 | Visions of Nature Art Studio Tour virtual tour of my studio on Facebook Live, Western Ave Studios & Lofts (Lowell MA)
2020 | First Saturday Open Studios studio display of artwork, Western Avenue Studios & Lofts (Lowell MA)
2019 | First Saturday Open Studios studio display of artwork, Western Avenue Studios & Lofts (Lowell MA)
2018 | First Saturday Open Studios studio display of artwork, Western Avenue Studios & Lofts (Lowell MA)
2018 | Artwork Exhibit small store display, Fern’s Country Store (Carlisle MA)
2018 | Perspectives juried group show, Gallery of the Boroughs (Northboro MA)
2017 | Energy Bodies in the Elements solo show, Lowell Telecommunications (Lowell MA)
2017 | The Space Between: reflecting an inner view of nature two-person show with artist Lauren Middleton, Trinity Episcopal Church (Concord MA)
2017 | First Saturday Open Studios studio display of artwork, Western Avenue Studios & Lofts (Lowell MA)
2016 | Artwork Exhibit yoga studio display, SUTRA Yoga Studio (Lowell MA)
2016 | First Saturday Open Studios studio display of artwork, Western Avenue Studios & Lofts (Lowell MA)
2011 | Annual Open Studios studio display of artwork, Vernon Street Studios (Somerville MA)
2011 | Essence group show, Gleason Public Library (Carlisle MA)
2008 | Artwork Exhibit church rectory display, Trinity Episcopal Church (Concord MA)
2005 | Artwork Exhibit group show, Gleason Public Library (Carlisle MA)
1999 | Members 2D annual juried group show, Concord Art Association (Concord MA)
1998 | Artwork Exhibit solo show, Trinity Episcopal Church (Concord MA)
1996 | Members 2D annual juried group show, Concord Art Association (Concord MA)
1993 | A Little Picture Show juried group show, Concord Art Association (Concord MA)
1992 | Members 2D annual juried group show, Concord Art Association (Concord MA)
1989 | Art Exhibit group display of artwork, Decorator's Clearing House (Acton MA)
1988 | Art Exhibit display of artwork, Senkler Real Estate Open House (Carlisle MA)
1988 | Annual Show juried group show, Acton Arts League (Acton MA)
1988 | Annual Open Studios Waltham Mill Artist's Association (Waltham MA)
1987 | Annual Open Studios Waltham Mill Artist's Association (Waltham MA)
1986 | Annual Open Studios Waltham Mill Artist's Association (Waltham MA)
1985 | Annual Open Studios Waltham Mill Artist's Association (Waltham MA)
1984 | Annual Open Studios Waltham Mill Artist's Association (Waltham MA)
1983 | Annual Open Studios Waltham Mill Artist's Association (Waltham MA)
1980 | Eye of The Storm solo show, Concord Public Library (Concord MA)
1975 | CCHS Graduating Seniors group show, Concord Art Association (Concord MA)
Apprenticeships
2017 | with the artist Barbara Poole as an location assistant helping to install a series of site-specific banners made by this artist on an abandoned architectural relic (Lowell MA)
1985 | with the artist Gregg Lefevre as anon location assistant making rubber molds of rock faces for a series of cast paper pieces by this artist (Waltham MA)
Residencies
2022 | Tongue River Artist Residency Bighorn Mountains WY residency and Black Hills SD visit (Dayton WY)
Workshops
2026 | Paint Your Spirit a 2 hour acrylic painting workshop with 12 participants, focused on expressing a personal view of the inner spirit or soul, Cobblestones Restaurant (Lowell MA)
Demonstrations
2026 | Acrylic Painting Demonstrations studio painting demonstrations during Open Studios, Western Ave Studios & Lofts (Lowell MA)
2025 | Watercolor Painting Techniques Greater Salem Artists Association (Salem NH)
2024 | Acrylic Painting Techniques Woburn Guild of Artists (Woburn MA)
2023 | Seascape Painting Demonstration studio painting demonstration, Western Ave Studios & Lofts (Lowell MA)
2022 | Watercolor Painting Demo studio painting demonstration, Western Ave Studios & Lofts (Lowell MA)
2021 | Live Seascape Painting studio painting demonstration from my studio, Western Ave Studios & Lofts (Lowell MA)
2021 | Art Studio Live Painting virtual painting demonstration from my studio on Facebook Live, Western Ave Studios & Lofts (Lowell MA)
2021 | Art Studio Painting Session virtual painting demonstration from my studio on Facebook Live, Western Ave Studios & Lofts (Lowell MA)
2020 | Live Painting Demo virtual painting demonstration from my studio on Facebook Live, Western Ave Studios & Lofts (Lowell MA)
2020 | Virtual Landscape Painting Demo Part II, virtual painting demonstration from my studio on Facebook Live, Western Ave Studios & Lofts (Lowell MA)
2020 | Virtual Studio Tour & Painting Demo virtual tour and painting demo in my studio on Facebook Live, Western Ave Studios & Lofts (Lowell MA)
1993 | Wildlife Painting Techniques demonstration during the ANNUAL SPRING FLOWER SHOW, Massachusetts Horticultural Society {Boston MA)
1990 | Airbrush Techniques demonstration of airbrush painting, Chelmsford Art Association (Chelmsford MA)
1988 | Faux Finishes demonstration of faux finishes and wall-texturing techniques, WCVB-TV Channel 5's Good Day Show (Boston MA)
Teaching
2024 - 2025 | Watercolor Painting individualprivatestudio lessons focusing on concepts, materials, and techniquess, Western Ave Studios & Lofts (Lowell MA)
Video
1996 | Ancient Drawing carved and painted panels depicting Indian cave drawings, talk show on animal rights by a local cable channel (Boston MA)
1990 | Rock Strata of Pittsburgh carved and painted panels depicting rocks and fossils found in the Pittsburgh area, video exhibit in the Carnegie Museum of Natural History (Pittsburgh PA)
Collaborations
2017 to present | mixed media paintings with artist Vanessa Compton (Lowell MA & Burlington VT)
Bibliography
Rick Sobey, New Life in Sight for an Old City Gem about decorative painting restoration in the Franco Building, Lowell Sun April 15, 2018
Hillary Levin, Energy Abounds in Person and on Canvas artist profile, Littleton Independent, March 10, 1988
Selected Art Projects
2019 | Faux Finishes and Decorative Painting decoration in an apartment and hallway at Lewis Wharf, a residential building (Boston MA)
2018 - 2023 | Decorative Painting Restoration extensive re-creation and restoration of multiple original hand-painted decorative borders, historic Franco Building (Lowell MA)
2009-2018 | Oldways Diet Pyramids series of traditional diet food illustrations for print and electronic media, Oldways.org (Boston MA)
2007 | Kissel’s Spiced Jam series of food illustrations for product packaging on nationally distributed product line (Chicago IL)
1998 | Copper Verdigris1500 square feet of exterior green patina copper panels and eleven 14"x 52" textured interior panels in a private residence (Sherborn MA)
1990 | Plantmobile two 8'x14' murals depicting numerous species on Massachusetts Horticultural Society’s mobile ecology classroom Plantmobile (Boston MA)
1990 | Runners mural of life size jogging figures in Sheraton Boxboro health club (Boxboro MA)
1990-2001 | Sarah Michaels Bath and Beauty Products extensive series of food and floral illustrations for product packaging on nationally distributed product line (Stoughton MA)
1988 | Wonders of Italy 5'x52' mural of famous Italian vistas in Florence Restaurant (Boston MA)
1986 | Ethereal Mountains8' x 12' magical mountain scene mural in child’s bedroom in a private residence (Brookline MA)
1985 | Star Room painted night sky and decorative border for turret ceiling in private residence (Dover MA)
1985 | Pixelations 12'x60' mural of computer-generated imagery MIT Coop food plaza (Cambridge MA)