I grew up in a family of art lovers but we were supposed to be content with appreciating art without any encouragement to make it. But somehow, I wanted to make art so for over 50 years, I have been making art with pencil, charcoal, pastels and most recently, acrylics. I did not go to art school, but I have taken many classes at community colleges and local art centers, and have gotten together with friends and fellow artists to draw and paint what we see around us or each other. I have been part of a group called Chalk It Up (Multi-media Artists Who Love Pastels) for several years and we have exhibited extensively in local cafes, restaurants, libraries and galleries. The camaraderie and support of those I work with inspires me to continue to work and get better.
I have been most interested in portraiture and figurative work. We all have a face. We all have a body. I see myself reflected in all of the people I paint, mostly in ways that are not initially obvious to me. The human being...vulnerable or happy or puzzled or content. Like me. And unlike me. I like best what is quirky or unusual, not part of the dominant societal paradigm. Being Jewish in a Christian dominant country as well as being queer in a heterosexist society, I've always felt different, on the edge. And as a 72 year old woman in a male and youth dominated world...need I say more? All of the qualities that make me different from the norm inform my work and draw me to my subjects. I enjoy pushing myself out of my comfort zone, finding new modes to express myself and continuing to discover more of who I am. |