Process & Me
Tho’ I grew up
in a family of artists and designers, it took me a long time to find my own art life. My Dad designed furniture, my Mom, clothes, my sister went from graphic design to fine art. For most of my young life, dance, sports and a number of entrepreneurial efforts were my focus. I went to The High School of Performing Arts and Juilliard School of Music to study dance. Later, I married and raised our two sons in the Berkshires in Massachusetts where I created an outdoor café in Stockbridge, called The Café in the Mews, published a magazine called The Berkshire Restaurant and Entertainment Guide and created a sign business, Signworks, which I ran for about 22 years. My sign work called for realistic art and I began to long for a more personal and expressive form as a foil.
One night, dabbling
with a 1” brush and colorful inks on a coated paper, I was thrilled to see the ribbonlike forms that appeared under my little brush. Excited, I bought a 2” brush and then, not satisfied, I commissioned a carpenter to make me a 6” and a 12” brush so the work could take on a larger scale. I had a pile of these pieces stacked in the corner of my office when a local gallery owner came asking for a sign, saw my work and convinced me to show in his gallery. For a number of years, I showed in local galleries and ran my sign business as well. My style has evolved over time. Currently I am cutting the shapes off the paper and creating collages and circular shaped images from the cut pieces.
In 2013
I moved to Sarasota Florida, retired my sign business and began my artlife full time. In 2014 several art agencies approached me and began selling my work to their clients - mostly hotels and commercial complexes. These agencies continue to work with me today. So, It wasn’t until I retired that my art life began in earnest, a passion that continues to capture my imagination today.
Below are some of the galleries who showed my work in the Berkshires and some of the commercial properties currently carrying my work, placed there through my agencies.
GALLERIES
Debra Davis Fine Art, Hudson, NY
Kintaro Restaurant Gallery, Great Barrington, MA
Lydia Mongiardo Collection, Lenox, MA
The Barbara Moran Gallery, South Egremont, MA
The Tyringham Art Gallery, Tyringham, MA
Sam Kaston Gallery, Great Barrington, MA
Riverbank Gallery, West Stockbridge, MA
CLIENTS - Countless Individuals - and thru my agencies -
Double Tree Hilton Hotel, Ealing, London.
Ritz Carlton Half Moon Bay Club Lounge, CA.
Waikiki Hilton Grand Hotel, HI,
Hotel Edgewater, Madison, WI.
Hilton Bonnet Creek, Orlando, FL
Vancouver Fairmont, Canada
St. Louis Chase State Park Plaza, MO.
Hilton Hotel Huntington Beach, CA.
JW Marriott Essex House Fitness Center, NYC
Metropolitan III propbery Condo complex, New Jersey
Hilton Chicago Grand Traditions Room.
Ritz Carlton Embassy Suites Destin.
Norwegian Cruise Line
Marriott Harbor Beach, Ft. Lauderdale, FL.
Westin St. Francis, San Fran. CA
Hyatt Regency, Morristown, NJ
Address Hotel, Dubai