Fiber Art and Acrylic Paintings: Worlds of Abstraction, Layers, and Saturated Color

Artist Statement

It was the first day of first grade and I was opening my new box of 64 Crayola crayons. What was more exciting than that? That same childhood passion for color and color relationships is what drives my creativity today.

I work in two different mediums: fiber and acrylic paint. As a fiber artist I start by creating my own fabrics using fiber-reactive dyes. Techniques include immersion dyeing, dye-painting, and various printing and resist techniques. I then use these fabrics to create color-saturated art quilts, drawing on traditional methods to create non-traditional work.

As a painter I use palette knives, brayers, brushes, and more to apply multiple layers of paint to paper, stretched canvas, or wood panels. I also incorporate other mark-making and collage materials to build the layers I desire and add nuance in line, shape, color and texture.

My work is layered and often improvisational. Some of it is purely abstract and non-representational. Other times I draw inspiration from the natural world and from urban and imaginary landscapes. All of it, I hope, will generate the same childhood excitement and sense of wonder that came opening that new box of Crayola crayons.

Before and during my artistic journey, I received a Ph.D. in sociology from Penn State University, raised two daughters, wrote a book, and was a writer, speaker, organizational leader, and owned a small event planning business. I am also a certified Humanist Celebrant and have officiated at over 100 weddings.

After living in Ithaca, NY for 32 years, as of 2025, I now divide my time between Ithaca and Tucson. In Ithaca, NY, I am a member of the State of the Art Gallery, the Quilt Divas, and am part of the Greater Ithaca Art Trail. In Tucson, I am a member of Contemporary Artists of Southern Arizona and I am excited to become part of SAAG and the Tucson area art community.