Recent Work
A Day Out 20X16
Acrylic on canvas
Go For It 16X20
Acrylic on paper (framed)
Experimental Mixed Media on Paper
Mixed Media #1 9X12
Mixed Media #2 9X12
Mixed Media #3 12X18
Mixed Media #6 9X12
Mixed Media #5 11X15
Mixed Media #4 18X12
Morning Trees 18X24
Acrylic on canvas
Slough with a View 16X20
Acrylic on canvas board
Fall River 24X18
Acrylic on canvas board (S)
_JPG.jpg)
Waiting for Dawn 12X12
Acrylic and colored pencil
on canvas (S)
BirdWoman10: Birth of Freeness
16X20 Acrylic on canvas (S)
Stand with Ukraine 16X20
Acrylic on canvas
Half Dozen To Go 12X12
Acrylic on canvas
Face 12 Dot 12X12
Acrylic on canvas
Face 11 Pensive 12X12
Acrylic on canvas
BirdWoman Series
My BirdWoman series symbolizes womans' desire for freedom. Each BirdWoman is transformed with the image of a bird in flight in order to break loose of earthly bonds and become who she is meant to be. She sees this bird each day and knows it can teach her to fly.
BirdWoman9: From Darkness
20X20 Acrylic on canvas
Selected by Art Fluent for the online exhibit, Motion www.art-fluent.com/motion
BirdWoman8: Emerging
36X24 Acrylic on canvas
BirdWoman7: Insight
24X18 Mixed media on canvas board (S) Selected by Art Fluent for the online exhibit, Within www.art-fluent.com/within
BirdWoman6 22X15
Mixed media on paper
BirdWoman5 24X12
Acrylic on canvas (S)
BirdWoman4 24X20
Acrylic on canvas (S)
BirdWoman3 20X16
Acrylic on canvas (S)
BirdWoman2 24X20
Acrylic on canvas (S)
Selected by Art Fluent for online exhibit, SHE.
BirdWoman 20X20
Acrylic and charcoal on canvas
...............
What If? 16X20
Acrylic on canvas
Looking In 20X20
Acrylic and charcoal on canvas
Planets in Motion 16X20 Acrylic on canvas
Moon Measurement 16X20 Acrylic on canvas
Have We a Spare?12X16 Acrylic on canvas, framed Selected for ArtFluent Online Exhibit, Boundless
Planets in Motion 2 12X16
Acrylic on canvas
No Cal Cheery Pie 12X12
Acrylic on canvas
No Cal Cheesecake 12X12
Acrylic on canvas
S-H-E 20X20
Acrylic on canvas
Looking Up 20X20
Acrylic on canvas
Reflection 16X20
Acrylic on canvas
Selected for Art Fluent virtual exhibit, Connection and the Campbell Museums exhibit, Reflection.
Spring Meadow 24X24
Acrylic on canvas
Filoli Spring 2 16X20
Acrylic on canvas (S)
Seascape 18X24
Acrylic on canvas
Windy Sea 12X24
Acrylic on canvas (S)
Birch Rave 22X22X2
Acrylic on canvas
Waterlilies 2 22X26
Acrylic on canvas
Stars 24X24
Acrylic on canvas
Flowing 18X24
Acrylic on canvas
Shaded Path 24X24
Acrylic on canvas
When I asked among my language arts-oriented friends (writers, teachers of English/ESL and public speakers) to describe their feelings about punctuation marks, how they related to language, and to choose their most and least favorites, I got strong opinions and good stories.
This series incorporates selected text from various contributors, categorized by favorites. Their comments inspired me to interpret the importance of punctuation which, said one, “supports the words and syntax used to convey a person’s thoughts and feelings.”
“Words without punctuation are like soup, all tumbling, swirling, and some settling to the bottom. Punctuation holds up some words. Makes them pop. Brings order. Cadence.”
Another said that punctuation makes sense of words as a whole, much like cosmic principles make sense of the universe.
Punctuation Parse: A Polyptych* 36X36
Acrylic and colored pencil on canvas (S)
Text on Panels
#1 The Period
A dot ends the sentence. The period is an ending that allows for new beginnings. It’s a good thing someone invented the symbol, period. It gives us the courage to walk away when the message has concluded. It equals a full stop. Certainty. Period.
#2 The Comma
I do love the comma. It is like a little gift to the reader. A comma is the shortest pause. It is a yield sign. When in doubt, leave it out. (Or when in double leave it out?) The comma saves lives: “Eat, Grandma.” “Eat Grandma.” A comma takes a breath and brings order.
#3 The Semicolon
A teacher I know assigned students to be experts on various punctuation marks and when a question arose about it, the expert was consulted. One student was so thrilled to be able to be the semicolon expert that months later when the teacher saw the student on campus, he showed her the semicolon he had tattooed on his arm.**
#4 The Question Mark
If I had to choose one punctuation mark, it would be the question mark. Although not necessary, really, because words and the order of words used usually make it obvious it is a question: “How are you doing.” Asking questions tells the other person you care about her/him. I really like the look of the question mark.
*A diptych consists of two painted panels, a triptych has three panels, and a polyptych has four or more panels.
**Subsequent to painting this piece, I learned the semicolon tattoo signifies also the hope to move beyond struggles with severe depression and suicidal thoughts. Project Semicolon, founded in 2013 (after this student's story) exists to both educate and to raise awareness about suicide and its prevention by encouraging a tattoo of a semicolon to indicate solidarity among those who struggle with suicidal thoughts or have lost someone to suicide.
Lifeline 18X23
Acrylic and graphite on canvas
Saguaro Sunrise 12X36
Acrylic on canvas (S)
Voting is a fundamental tenet in the United States, as both a simple decision-making tool and a manifestation of democracy. This ballot box could be for an early frontier Congressional race, 7th-grade class officers, or a neighborhood street light project. As a symbol of an American narrative, the box shows signs of wear over long use but is now framed by danger.
Although voting rights of free white males are contained in the U.S. Constitution, Black men did not gain suffrage until the Fifteenth Amendment in 1870, which was later undermined during Jim Crow Era poll taxes, unfair literacy tests, and property ownership to prevent Blacks from voting. Women did not win the right to vote until 1920 with the Nineteenth Amendment, the fight for which had begun in the mid-1800s. Native Americans, not considered citizens until 1924, sought voting rights state by state through 1962, when all states conceded.
Full enfranchisement provisions were enshrined in the 1965 Voting Rights Act which prohibited “discrimination on account of race, color or language minority” and prevented any jurisdiction from abridging the right to vote -- but was later weakened by a Supreme Court decision in 2013. Even after the 1965 Voting Rights Act, people of color – both men and women – often were actively discouraged from voting.
Foreign interference has sought to undermine the integrity of our election process -- an attack on democracy. With recent postal restrictions and given efforts at voter suppression in some states, the universal right to vote is at risk. It is for Congress to restore voting rights and protections. Every vote is a voice heard.
The City of San Jose's Office of Cultural Affairs Public Art Commission selected this painting for their Holding the Moment project -- part of a display at the SJ Airport.
The City of SJ Independent Police Auditor's Annual Report 2021 included VOTE in the cover art.
VOTE 14.5X13, framed
Acrylic on canvas and frame (S)
Looking Out 18X24 Acrylic on canvas (S)
While living through this grim and grueling time of pandemic, I am looking out the window a lot. The stay-at-home order for nonessential (dreadful word) workers and seniors and health-compromised who can make only necessary forays outside now grieve normalcy and endure the lassitude of looking out.
Those who do/must go to work risk danger every day. For them, “looking out,” means something entirely different, as they are looking out for and taking care of the rest of us, even while looking out less for themselves.
I look out in remembrance of those who have died of this virus and am heartbroken for the bereaved who were unable to spend last moments with their loved one. I look out in sorrow for those who have no window from which to look out.
There are, for fortunate me, books to read, friends to call, art to make, seeds to plant, closets and cabinets and cupboards to re-organize, but I come back to looking out.
These handmaids have their genesis in Fates, folklore, foundation myths, goddess/mothers, Salem, crones, hags, witches and bitches, who -- on behalf of women -- witness, object to, and protest repression, subjugation, subservience, and abuse. They demand fair treatment and equal rights, and their powers serve women. “Tell” is an archeological term for a place created when many generations build on the same spot, forming a mound.
Handmaids Tell 18X24
Acrylic and charcoal on canvas, framed
Selected for Triton Museum of Art Statewide Art Competition and Exhibition, 2021
and Art Fluent Online Exhibition, FEMME, March 2021.
Fragments 8X10
Acrylic, copper and
mixed media on canvas
City Limits 8X10
Mixed media on canvas
There are many connections among living things: a commonality of both needs and satisfactions, a dependence upon self and others, and loss in the face of disaster and disease. No Borders represents a desire to be aware of self-imposed restrictions in the world.
No Borders 16X20
Acrylic and graphite on canvas, framed
Selected for Mexican Heritage Gardens Gallery show, Tierra y Raices/Earth and Roots
Celadon Vase 14X18
Mixed media on canvas, framed
Shadow Vase 16X20,
Mixed media on canvas, framed
Magenta Flowers 18X24 Acrylic on canvas
Urban Flowers 16X20
Mixed media on canvas (S)
Maui Banty 12X12
Acrylic on canvas
Follow the Birds 24X24 Acrylic on canvas
This depicts the appalling treatment of asylum-seekers and immigrants at the U.S. Southern border with Mexico.
The lyrics from South of the Border came from 1939 sheet music found at two different yard sales and both echoes and propelled the piece with the theme of broken promises.