What can I say? I’m a joiner! For several years I had heard about a group of local Brooklyn artists, the Park Slope Windsor Terrace Artists, and knew that they held open studios and organized exhibits. Since I have always had a studio in Gowanus, it never occurred to me that I would be eligible to join. A few months ago I learned that as a resident of Park Slope, I could apply to join, which I did immediately and was accepted pretty soon afterwards. I’ve always believed that there is more power in numbers and that a group can accomplish more than an individual. A strong group of 60 artists, t ..read more

  Soon I will look back with nostalgia on the last 20 years of painting scenes around the Gowanus Canal, where Commerce and Industry dominated for over a century. My paintings depict the unique attractions the Canal has had for me: low, old buildings giving way to big skies, often with dramatic cloud formations reflected in the fetid waters of the polluted Canal; old-school utilitarian architectural details that articulate structures; trees and shrubs sprouting where Nature has miraculously re-asserted itself; and an air of disarray and disuse; which result in wonderful, spontaneous arran ..read more

  As I am preparing for an exhibit of my paintings from this memorable month in Tuscany, Italy, I realized that I had not properly recorded my experience there. So, with the thought that it’s “better late than never” here goes…. I spent 4 weeks in June 2019 painting in the hilltop village of Montepulciano, in the province of Tuscany, Italy. I picked it (not to be confused with the wine by the same name, which actually comes from the province of Abruzzo) not only because it has medieval charm and is in lovely Tuscany, but it also hosts a well-rated Italian language school for my husband ..read more

While I often make small-scale studies and sketches, I rarely use them to create a finished painting. However, this year two different small studies led me to paint this larger, finished canvas. (Click on image to go to painting info.)   Gowanus Canal Near 3rd St, Late Afternoon, oil on canvas, 18” x 24”, 2021   Over the past 20 years, I have painted many views of the Gowanus Canal for a few key reasons: the big open sky, a waterfront with old, interesting buildings along the banks, and quirky architectural remnants of the former transportation activities that the canal once served ..read more

November 2021 marks the 15th anniversary of the publication of 100 New York Painters. Yes, that is my self-portrait in the 2nd row. As the publisher says, "Although you may recognize the names and works of many, this company of 100 painters also features works by artists less celebrated, though no less deserving of attention." I met the author, Cynthia Dantzic, at a figure painting studio in SoHo, and she decided to include me in her book. Little did she know that I was near the end of a five year time frame I had given myself to try making art on a full-time basis, and then decide whether to ..read more

I am often asked for suggestions on how to hang artwork on a wall. And by this I mean how to arrange the artwork, not the actual act of affixing it to a wall. My usual, and completely honest, response is that this is not my area of expertise. Last autumn during an exhibition, I enlisted Teri Brajewski, a collector and interior designer who has become a friend, to give a talk on this topic. I took some notes, and (finally!) will share some of her tips here. Generally speaking, people tend to think that each piece must be shown off individually on a big wall, but this is not a hard and fast rule ..read more

Did you know that I am an avid (but careful) downhill skier?! It comes from a lot of the same things that excite me about painting on-site, "en plein air": my love of being outdoors, the physical challenge, visual pleasure, and having to be in the moment. There's no question that the fresh mountain air and scenery are a huge draw, especially the bigger the mountain. I am a big fan of the Rockies in Colorado, and hone my skills on the Green Mountains of southern Vermont. Cabin Fever. oil on cradled panel, 9”x12” (private collection) Painting outside is my version of not being tied year round ..read more

I recently had a wonderful studio visit with John and Noni of Art In Res. They invited me to join their art rental and sales platform, artinres.com, which features NYC-based artists with a mission to "Make art more accessible and less intimidating" by enabling you to (in their words) "Date art before it moves in." Apply to join as a collector and you can rent original artwork month-to-month. If you end up renting an artwork for a year - it's yours! Find out more here: https://artinres.com/. Be sure to tell them I sent you ..read more

I was at a gallery recently for an artist's talk, and the curator started by saying that he was not at all interested by pretty or decorative art, in a very dismissive and disdainful tone. He felt art should make a statement about current affairs (especially these days) - political or social - otherwise, it had no point. It wasn't the place or time to "defend" myself, so I kept my thoughts to myself. I believe that he devalued the effect that the actual process of making art might have on a person. What I wanted to say is that for me painting serves two main purposes: 1) As a process, it is a ..read more

I'm looking forward to welcoming you to my studio this weekend for Gowanus Open Studios 2017. Given the broad geography and sheer number (350+) of participating artists, here are five tips as you consider how to make the most of your time and energy: 1. Have a general game plan. Thinking ahead about why you are coming and how to accomplish that can help you get the most out of the weekend. For example: You want to support a friend or an artist you know OR you want to see a large range of art being made in Gowanus today OR looking for that perfect piece to hang in your living room. A good pla ..read more