My Focus
Capture it before it's gone.
I grew up in the Bay Area, lived out of state for about 15 years before returning home. Much has changed, some for the better. I want to call out these secret gardens, little nooks of delight interspersed in our suburbia. Plein Air, or painting outside, brings great joy to me, and I hope it shows in my canvases. Nothing is better than a good challenge and mine is to remind us of these forgotten places.
Draw everyday
Join a local Art Group! Meet other artists, learn new techniques, appreciate a vast array of art styles, and help others in their creative endeavors.
Everyone can make art
Give a student materials, an idea, a few guided steps, and away they go; creating a delightful mess and amazing art. I believe everyone can make art. Children do not need to be prodigies to discover amazing talents within themselves. I teach summer camps at the Bothwell Art Center for kids ages 6 to 17
Draw everyday
I draw everyday. A micron pen (005 or 01) and a sketchbook. I have two bookshelves full of my books going back 30 years. Some drawings are full on, detailed illustrations but most are silly or just plain bad. It doesn't matter. Sketching is to painting what yoga is to running; I am stronger and more flexible for it. Also, I get grumpy if I haven't sketched.
Celebrate you
What makes art special is that an individual made it. We each have our own mark, our own perspective, our own experience to share. Visual arts is one of the few areas where individuality is celebrated. Embrace the drawing or painting that only you could create.