Daughters IX 2011

It’s really very simple.  I just love to draw.  And what I love to draw best is people.  I would love to draw your people.  While I was always a doodler, I didn’t seriously pick up a drawing pencil until my kids were in school, and knew immediately that I wanted to keep doing this forever.  

I don’t have a complex philosophy about the way I do art.  For me, portraiture is an active, expressive approach to people-watching, something we all love to do.  I grew up in New England, attended Brown University, and now live in Oregon.  I don’t have art school training, but have taught myself -- as so many artists do -- by going to open studios, classes at local community centers, reading art books and magazines, and -- most important -- by drawing, drawing, and drawing more.  

I specialize in faces, either realistically rendered or as caricatures, and work from life and from photos, though not from others’ professional photos (unless you have the photographer’s permission).  While I prefer to have a couple of hours of face time with a client to do sketches, get to know that person’s features, and take photos of my own, this is not always possible because of schedule or geography.  We can make arrangements that suit your needs.

I mostly use charcoal and graphite, with a touch here and there of conté for a highlight.  I do not set the number of hours I work on a commissioned portrait.  I work on it until both you and I are satisfied.  End of story.

With each commission I also provide a jpeg file that you can use to e-mail the image to your friends.    You also get my practice sketches, if you want them.

Although we are all facing many economic challenges these days, one of my portraits or caricatures provides an affordable, personally meaningful piece of original art for you or someone you care about.  It is truly art about you.

I am a member of the Oregon Society of Artists, where I lead a weekly life drawing group, and the Portrait Society of America.

Please take a moment to browse through my works and meet the folks in my “gallery.”   And feel free to e-mail me with questions.