Heartfelt Connection, Oil on Wood Panel, 20” x 16” 2024 $1,500

My children had pet chickens and each chicken had their own distinct personality. This painting is a memory of my daughter with hers. It is a tender moment of connection - a quiet meeting of trust and affection. All species of birds have fascinated me with their intelligence and awareness. They respond to kindness with trust making it easy to form deep mutual bonds.

As I ran through the tall grass, far from everything, the world seemed to fall away. In that fleeting rush of air and sunlight, I felt utterly connected to the earth - a feeling so vivid it has never left me.

Sometimes an entire flock of geese seems to appear out of nowhere. Out of the shifting clouds they come, a great flock appearing as if conjured from the very air - an unexpected wonder sweeping across the sky.

Serenity captures a moment of inner tranquility, eyes closed and feeling the depth in spirit when you feel connected to your authentic inner self.

‍ ‍Foresight, Ink Wash on Paper, 8 ½” x 13” 2021 $2,700

I was inspired to create this piece after visiting the east coast and watching as the rugged-faced fishermen haul in their catch. There was a sense of timelessness about them - that they have been doing this for generations. I chose to make it a black and white portrait to reflects the timelessness of his occupation. Using ink wash as the medium allowed me to simplify his features and clothing – creating a more powerful image than would have been achieved in color. I noticed one fellow on the dock who was wearing glasses - with my image reflected back at me. I thought it would be a more intriguing image if his own steady gaze was the image in the glasses. And the title is a play on words - he sees into his own future with four eyes.

The Bond, Oil on wood panel, 24” x 18” 2022 $3,000

The bond between a falconer and these magnificent birds of prey has always intrigued me. This image captures both the power of that connection and the falcon’s majestic grace in the moment of its return and landing.

Whenever I frame up an image this way to help determine my composition, I always feel that that the image I see within my hands brings clarity and focus from its surroundings. It helps me to better understand the characteristics and essence of my subject matter. So this is a playful reminder that with the right focus, we can see through the clouds that surround us.

Progeny means “ to bring forth, to beget”. This painting is about Mennonite culture, the deep beliefs and values that underlie their enduring way of life. It was inspired from a rare tour of their family’s farm, when Susan and her sister introduced me to the animals they cared for and proudly showed me the eggs they were responsible for gathering every morning. Susan holds an egg – the essential offspring of their hens, just as she herself is her family’s cherished offspring maintaining their personal and cultural traditions.

From the moment they hatch, birds imprint on the first being they see - a vital instinct that guides them to follow and learn from their mother. But when that first gaze meets a human, the bond is no less strong, binding bird and person in an inseparable connection.

My daughter was the inspiration for this painting when she climbed to the top of the highest hill in this surreal landscape at Watson Lake, Arizona. She threw her arms open, feeling the strong wind blowing and I could literally feel her spirit soar. These are the meaningful moments we treasure.

In nature Canada Geese fly in unison in a perfect V formation, led by a strong leader with a keen sense of direction who assumes the position at the head. But in this playful scene, order gives way to chaos portraying what would happen with a weak leader who is heading off course. The flock breaks apart, each bird flying off in an uncertain direction - a whimsical vision of what might unfold when the leader’s compass has gone astray. 

I remember so many misty mornings on the lake like this one and imagine a magical moment. Paddling silently through the mist-veiled waters of early morning, she enters the loon’s realm. She meets its gaze - a mirror of herself. Reflection and reality blur, the woman and the loon are kindred spirits, bound by uncanny resemblance.

In a dreamlike morning sky, a young woman drifts above the waking countryside, her hot air balloon rising with the sun. Through the golden light, an eagle sweeps past - majestic, untamed, and impossibly close.