My current figurative work is an unexpected departure from the non-representational paintings I made for years. I attribute the change to the ever-increasing influence and intrusion of social media leading to an unprecedented abandonment of civility and human decency exploding in the external world. My busy, no-focal-point compositions seem mimetic to the constant jackhammering of-–and arbitrary equalization of—world events and social media echo chambers that are difficult to escape from, or process. The paintings aren’t literal “gatherings,” as much as gatherings of referential beings that may or may not connect to each other in the real world, and that resonate with me for one reason or another.

Working intuitively, I begin with a visceral exploration of color and texture using acrylics, watercolor pencils, graphite and collage. Emotion is amplified through color. The figures that emerge from this process-based practice embrace flaws and can occasionally be disquieting. The paintings include babies, elderly people, dancers, swimmers, pets. They reach for, hold, or repel connection with expressions that reveal indifference, anger, sadness and mistrust. There’s also love and humor. As I excavate, I attempt to clarify some areas while leaving others open-ended. Blending cartoon and nightmare, these visual narratives come from memories, dreams, and the human stories that filter through from the unquiet world.

I hold a BFA from Massachusetts College of Art and Design and an MFA from the Solstice Program at Lasell University in Newton, Massachusetts. My work has been shown in group and solo shows around New England including the Portland Museum of Art, Waterfall Arts, Harlow Center for the Arts, River Arts, and the UMVA gallery in Portland.

My recent three-artist solo show at Waterfall Arts in Belfast, Maine was titled, “You Are Never Alone.” The exhibition explored the idea of remembering we are not alone as we face past trauma and the inescapable norm-shattering present and as artists, mine inner messages and intuition, to facilitate our own healing and to connect with others. As a single parent, it has been a challenge to sustain my art practice but continuing to create and grow is essential for my mental health. I’ve worked as a chef, pastry chef, and children’s librarian. As a socials-avoiding introvert, I have always worked non-representationally. Even when my medium was photography, humans just didn’t appear in my work. So it was unexpected and uncomfortable when figures began to show up in my paintings. I resisted at first, then dove in and have been enjoying following where they lead me. Each painting is an adventure.