Artistic Influences

Illuminations from French and English Medieval Manuscripts inform my style more than any other source. The Limbourg Brothers' paintings are of particular interest to me for their uniqueness in color, perspective and scope of Medieval life represented.

Other artists who inspire me: Jan van Eyck, John Waterhouse, Alphonse Mucha, Aubrey Beardsley, Arthur Rackham, Beatrix Potter, Cicely Mary Barker, Remedios Varo, Mercer Mayer, and Trina Schart Hyman. I'm also very fond of Ancient Greek and Roman art for its exploration of human expression, especially the work by the Late Hellenic sculptor Praxiteles.

Artist's Materials

I use hot or cold press Arches 300# paper or an Arches block of 140# cold press paper. Strathmore Gemini papers are nice, too.
Winsor and Newton Artists watercolor paints are my favourite.

Art markers remind me of colourful childhood drawings, so I continue to use Prismacolor by Sanford to create vivid illustrations.

Favorite Subjects

Themes from mythology and fairy tales! Figure studies were my favorite while in school, but, like all artists, I had to practice a variety of subjects. Charcoal and graphite became favorite mediums for exploring human forms, as they are very forgiving materials and capture the fluidity of the human body very well.

Literary Influences

I draw heavily on literary sources from many periods and cultures. Early Medieval literature of France and England being the most prominent. Romance literature like the Lais of Marie de France, the Arthurian legends and the Brothers Grimm Fairy tales are all primary influences.

Classical myths of Greece and Rome have always held a special place in my heart. It's a subject that seized my imagination at a young age and proved very useful as I began to seriously study the history of art. All of the corresponding art that goes with Greek and Roman myths simply captivates me, from red attic figure pottery to the Temple of Athena.

Folklore and myths from around the globe are a great fount of otherworldly creatures who roil in my imagination long after the last page has been read. L. Frank Baum's Oz series, Lewis Caroll's Alice in Wonderland, and Lloyd Alexander's venerable Chronicles of Prydain continue to enchant me. C.S. Lewis' The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe series holds a place on the top shelf, too.

Current Work and Hobbies

When I'm not painting, time is spent gardening, cooking and writing poetry.