About My Work

Erin, "2008"

A large percentage of my work focuses on the portrait and figure. Since moving to the Eastern Shore, I’ve also become interested in working in plein air, inspired by new artist friends and the natural abundance of beauty in this area. I paint with oil or pastel, and sometimes draw using an old master three chalk method on tinted and lightly textured paper. I continue to explore working with new techniques using pastels, solvents, and paper.

Art Education

  • BA in Visual Arts from Florida State University, 1977. Juried into BFA based on a series of fantasy drawings.
  • The Torpedo Factory, Alexandria, Virginia, 1999-2008. Studied portrait and figure under the direction of Danni Dawson, Robert Liberace, Priscilla Treacy, and Edward Reed.
  • Pastel Workshops with Mary Pritchard, October 2008, January 2009 and April 2009.
  • Pastel Portrait Workshop with Claudia Post, May 2010, July, 2010.

Gallery representations

  • Gallery, Fayetteville, Arkansas, 1978. Group show featuring endangered species, pen and ink on paper.
  • Great Southern Gallery, Key West, Florida, 1990. Solo exhibition of the male figure in a series of intricate, graphite drawings.
  • MOCA DC, Georgetown, 2006. The Figure, Group show, “Young Girl”, oil on canvas.
  • Del Ray Arts League, Alexandria, VA, October 2006. All Things Magical, Group show, “The Fortune Teller”, oil on canvas.
  • Torpedo Factory Art Gallery, Alexandria, VA, December 2007. Small Works group show, “A Good Man”, three chalks.
  • Chestertown Arts League, 60th Annual Juried Show (March, 2008), “Seated Nude”, oil on canvas, “Ready to Go”, three chalks.
  • Chestertown Arts League, Art in the Park, portraits and local birdlife, September 2008.
  • Plein Air Painters, Heron Point, Group show, September, 2008.
  • Artworks, Members shows,(July and December 2008).
  • Chestertown Arts League, Black and White Show (December 2008).
  • Chestertown Arts League, About Faces Show (March 2009), “Isabella”, grisaille with color on canvas panel, People's Choice Award.
  • Chestertown Arts League, 61st Annual Juried Show (March, 2009),“Cows (Waiting for St. Nicholas)&rdquo,pastel,“Reflections”,oil on canvas board.
  • Chestertown Arts League, Studio Gallery, joint exhibition, May, 2009.
  • Artworks, Members show (May, 2009), “Strong Values”,pastel, People's Choice Award.
  • Chestertown Arts League, Artful Structures Show (June, 2009),“238 to Pomona”,pastel.
  • Hogan's Real Estate, Solo Show: “Inspirational Portrait Series” (November, 2009), twelve original portraits in oil.
  • Chestertown Arts League, Our Perspectives Show (December, 2009), “Blackwater Wildlife Refuge- Early November”, pastel, People's Choice Award.
  • Artworks, Members Show (May, 2010), “Grace”,oil on canvas panel.
  • Chestertown Arts League, Parts of a Whole Show (July, August, 2010),“Unbroken”,pastel, People's Choice Award.

History

As a single mom who raised two children while working full time in various management positions, it was vital for me to continue to create art often and whenever possible. During the past twenty years, I've worked on numerous portrait commissions of people, their pets, and sometimes, their houses and designing numerous posters, business cards and logos for independent businesses while living in Key West.

A few years ago, I married a wonderful man, who thoroughly understands and supports my need to create art. Together, our lives are vibrant, rich and fulfilling. We look forward to each new day with a level of awareness and excitement that comes from being fully alive.

Newest Developments

In March of 2010, Riverheart Cafe in Chestertown, Maryland, asked me to hang the portraits in oil that had previously gone up at Hogans in November, 09. This second show proved to be fun for everyone, garnering enthusiasm and positive comments from many who had not had a chance to see the first show.

This year I have been working hard, learning more about the application of pastel and their use with portraiture. In April, I attended the annual National Portrait Society Conference for the first time in Reston, Virginia, which consisted of four days filled with informative demonstrations, lectures and breakout sessions. Later on, in May, I took part in a pastel portrait workshop taught by Clauda Post, a master pastelist from Connecticut , and earlier this summer, attended a mentoring session with Claudia for a critique on portraits I am currently working on for an upcoming show.

The new show will be hosted once more by Hogan's Real Estate on High Street in Chestertown, Maryland with an opening set for Friday, November 5, 2010. As in 2009, the people I have painted will be from our local counties (Kent and Queen Annes) on the upper Eastern Shore of Maryland. The differences will be that each of the twelve people selected to be painted are from families that have lived in the area for three or more generations and all of the portraits this time will be executed completely in pastel.