I’ve always loved working with my hands and striving to create beautiful things. I majored in sculpture and ceramics at The College of William & Mary and later, did the architectural design for a Cleveland area builder’s homes. Outside of high school art classes, I did very little painting. But when my late husband, Barry, became ill, I set up a studio in the bedroom adjacent to ours and invested in an easel and oil painting supplies. He had a great eye and would critique my nightly efforts. One of my dear friends who is a renowned oil pastel artist told me long ago that her compositions are built with “an invitation to enter.” Linda’s comment really struck me; there are many “pretty pictures” to be had, but I want the viewer to be drawn into my paintings – to wonder where the road or stream leads – to want to make the journey. Life is full of forks in the road – of opportunities and challenges…..what treasures does each path unfold?

Nova Scotia was the first of my efforts – inspired by photos my Uncle John and his wife, Cynthia, took from their cottage on Mahone Bay, which opens to the Atlantic Ocean.

I loved painting the reflection of the sunset in the water. The juxtaposition of the two sailboats is intended to draw the eye into the horizon, leaving the viewer to wonder what’s beyond.