Born in New York City in 1966, I moved to rural Marin County, California in 2009. For many years, I have been using landscape as a jumping off point for compositions that are based on memory, but can sometimes include imaginary and allegorical elements. A major source of imagery has often been the rocky beach in Southold, NY, to which I’m deeply tied, more recently I've used the Marin County landscapes around me as inspiration.
I'm endlessly fascinated with the differences in the visual qualities of my memories compared to real life. In memory, colors are often heightened or changed, and the placement of landmarks can be skewed. Entire areas of space can be pushed together or rearranged as our mind needs them to be.
I love to play with these ideas in my paintings, walking a fine line between depicting the memory and the fascinating collection of shapes, textures and colors that are saved in my mind. This is my way of processing the natural world around me, while exploring many complex feelings about the past and present through the tactile experience of painting.
Most recently, I've begun adding still life objects to the landscapes. These artifacts and treasured objects of loved ones who have passed away are included as a way of memorializing them, as well as to mark the seasons of life I have left behind.