Congratulations on 5 years in your gallery! What did you do to celebrate?

I was so busy painting and having fun, I didn’t even know until my sweet husband showed up with balloons and a carrot cake, my favorite, from 5th Avenue Coffee Co. Five years, five pounds added rather quickly.

What are you currently working on in your gallery?

Well, on the gallery easel is a corporate portrait, in progress, for a very nice man with a lovely smile. At home, I’m painting a group of smaller pieces promised for various fundraisers, and early mornings I spend time covered in paint at a space I’m renting where I get my fluid seascapes underway before bringing them to paint in the ever so lovely gallery. 

What do you paint specifically for your gallery?

It really doesn’t work that way. At my age, I paint what I want, and so far, people seem to enjoy having what I consider interesting and beautiful in their home.

Do you have an example?

One of my recent series reflects my memories of the beauty below the sea from my snorkel and scuba observations. Knowing so many in this area are not from Florida as I am, I didn’t expect it would be greeted so warmly. However, I have been surprised and thrilled that others enjoy my re-creations of the beautiful coral colors along with the lovable sea creatures.

What’s on your ‘bucket list’ to paint?

I have been evolving my sea paintings into capturing the many moods found on the seashore. I find it enormously interesting as the sea and sky colors interact together; a never-ending subject to explore. 

What question do you get asked the most?

Definitely, ‘How long does a painting take?’ I just answer, ‘73 years!’ That is actually the truth; with every painting, I love exploring another minuscule nuance in the creative process.

Why do you think your gallery is so successful?

I really just opened the gallery to fill my desire of wanting to meet people who were enjoying and purchasing my artwork, and being in other galleries didn’t fill this need at this point in my career. I feel I’m creating my best pieces and I want to see where ‘my children’ go! At the gallery, we sometimes joke that we have ‘adoptions’

What is the process when someone commissions a piece? 

I love to go to their house, measure the space, and see their personal style and color palette in the home. I also love to see where the light source is coming from in the home and mirror that in the painting. If the window will be to the right of the finished piece, then I paint accordingly so it’s compatible with the scene. I’ve even flipped paintings so the light source is coming from the right direction. It might be picky, but I feel like it just makes the painting more relatable in the space! 

Gallery wrap or framing? 

Both! They are both wonderful options and can work in a variety of rooms and homes. If you aren’t sure you can always start with a gallery wrap and then move to a frame once you have found the right one for your home. 

Do you have a fulfilling story for your art?

Oh my, too many to relate. Most involve two topics, love and healing.