What is your medium now? (oils, acrylic, pastel, watercolor...) What medium have you always wanted to use, but haven't yet? What mediums have you used in the past? Why do you prefer your current medium?

Watercolor was my first love and continues to be my favorite. I have working in oil, pastel, and pen and ink. With watercolor you work from light to dark, giving up your light areas slowly to preserve the white of the paper as your white. I love the spontaneity of the medium and the freshness of color.

Do you do preliminary sketches before painting your subject?

No, I plunge right in relying on an innate feeling of composition. I was the bane of my early teachers who wanted preliminary and value sketches, but I found they sapped my initial enthusiasm and freshness.

Do you prefer to sit or stand when you are painting?

I much prefer to stand because you can make sure of body English and rhythm and can back off to assess your progress. As my ankle and leg grow stronger I hope to return to standing.

Have you ever had a breakthrough moment that made you change how and why you do your art?

Many years ago the Art League sponsored a critique with Gene Davis, the color/stripe artist. A friend was painting hugh canvases and needed help getting her pieces to critique. I became the "other end". The bonus was getting to hear Davis' critique of everyone's work. At one paint he said "You are either a diletante or a fanatic and you will never make it in the Art World unless you becaome a fanatic". I took a hard look at what was consuming my time and eliminated lots of "stuff".

What areas do you find especially helpful or rewarding in your art career?

Besides the sheer joy of creating, I recently retired from 21 years of teaching. I continue to teach workshops, lecture, judge exhibitions, and author articles. My resume has a list of books and magazines that contain articles and illustrations. I actively participate in National and International juried exhibitions and have earned signature status in thirteen watercolor societites including the American Watercolor Society (NY) and National Watercolor Society (CA). In addition I am an Official United States Coast Guard Artist, recording the Coast Guard at work.

Though most of us prefer working outdoors, do you prefer a studio where you live or maintaining a separate space? Why?

My studio work is always based on work I have done en plein air. Since I prefer early morning or late afternoon light which is very fleeting, these paintings are done from photography taken while painting outdoors.

Can you describe a comical situation that occurred during one of your painting sessions that others would enjoy hearing?

Recently I taught my last class on the Canal. My students were busily painting and I was finishing mine. I felt I was being watched and turned to find a beautiful white fluffy chicken engrossed in my work. The owner was a big husky tattoed, leather clad biker, a very incongruous pair. Both were too "chicken" to join the class! He said she was an exotic Chinese Silky - probably didn't want to get paint on her feathers.

In light of the current world climate, what do you feel is the role of the artist?

I have painted in many rural areas and abhor the ravenous development. Many people do not know, for instance, that barns represent the customs of building barns brought from the old countries. One artist I know was trying to document the little mountain churches before they were replaced.

Which artists do you turn to for inspiration?

I never tire of studying watercolors by Homer, Hopper, and Sargent. Watercolor seems to allow them a freedom and freshness not apparent in their other work.

What hangs on your walls?

I collect art and have a big collection. The first criteria is do I love the work and secondly do I have faith in the reputation of the artist. I have a small Jamie Wyeth that came to me in an amusing way. My husband was at an auction and saw a small etching on a sterling silver sheet and the artist was Jamie Wyatt. He came home and asked if I knew of this artist. I didn't but I knew of Jamie Wyeth. We left a bid of $150 and went by the next day and found it was awarded to us for $90 - $5 more than the highest bid of $85!