I found myself sitting under a tree at Ghost Ranch in New Mexico (one of Georgia O’Keeffe’s favorite places to paint). On a trip celebrating my birthday, I was handed my first set of watercolor paints by one my favorite people in the world, my aunt and renowned artist, Marijane Hebert. I began painting much later than most artists but it quickly became an all-encompassing passion and I found myself painting almost daily. My favorite medium is oil. The year I joined Scottsdale Artist League I also became 1st Vice President and presided over the Speakers Bureau. It was a great experience getting to know many of Arizona’s leading artists. I began exhibiting through the league and have later branched out into gallery’s and other shows. Winning several art awards for my work.
I was educated in both business and as a Register Nurse and am currently the owner of 4ce Of Nature LLC. 4ce Of Nature was developed as an opportunity to offer high performance anti-wrinkle skin care. During my career, I was involved in the development of four multi-million-dollar companies. As COO of Code Rite, my company was recognized by Inc Magazine as one of the fastest growing companies in the US. During a consulting role I also worked as the President of a National Builders Publishing company.
In one of the companies, I lead the design and implementation of six complex software systems for Emergency Physicians nationally. I’ve managed staff of as many as 500, and sales forces of over 100 representatives. I was later involved with several scientists (including a four-time Nobel Prize Candidate) in the development of anti-aging skin care products, and nutritional supplements for 4ce Of Nature. As a nurse I have had extensive experience in advanced skin management and burns, I was the founder and director of one of the largest Hospice programs in Southern California. I served as the Chairman for the Southern California State Hospice Education Division. My clinical experience includes the operating room (eyes, open hearts, orthopedics, plastics and general surgery) burns and advanced skin care, oncology, critical care and emergency medicine.
I have traveled all over the US and much of Europe. I have raced large sailboats competitively in California, Texas, Mexico and Arizona. Coming from a family with many artists; I was mainly influenced and initially taught to paint by my favorite aunt Marijane Hebert, and she continues to this day teaching me something new every time I am with her. I enjoy painting Arizona landscapes in oil along with other western art. Most recently I have begun experimenting with florals.
After surviving two bouts of cancer, I realized I had to stop focusing on the fact I had been diagnosed with the disease I most feared and choose to focus all of my attention on something I loved, art. There is no better way to refocus your attention than to learn something new, something so consuming that it engages your senses and emotions and requires that you stretch yourself in ways that you have never explored before. I found my passion and decided to dive in and pursue it wholeheartedly.
I have found great joy in simply knowing that something I painted brought happiness or peace to another person. It’s a thrill when a young person begins to invest in original art rather than putting posters on their walls. I still cherish my first piece of original art, given to me by college roommate. I love the emotions that art can elicit, the memories that are evoked, the thrill of certain color combinations, stunning compositions of breathtaking scenes, and the subtle messages hidden in art. A long time collector myself I have found that it is rewarding to personally know the artist, it adds so much to the connection and relationship with the painting.
As a nurse I’ve been awed by the healing art can achieve. I recently spoke to a woman attending an art opening in a Breast Center, she related the moment that she was receiving a diagnostic work-up after the devastating news she had cancer. She looked up to see this gorgeous happy floral painting on the wall that had been painted by a breast cancer survivor and felt it was a message to her that everything would be all right. Something so simple changed her total attitude toward her illness.
I am so grateful for the many teachers who have guided my hands, and the excitement I have experienced from my collectors. Deciding to go on this journey has been one of my favorite endeavors. Painting the beauty of nature has taught me to be much more observant of the world around me and to live more fully exploring it. I now pay more attention to every nuance and subtle detail in a scene and I’ve learned to appreciate the perfection of color in the wild. As nature and material varies over time, I am constantly challenged to improve and find the dynamic quality in every opportunity.
Statement
When its monsoon season in Arizona, and the black thunderheads are piling up on the horizon, for me, this is when it all starts. Everywhere I turn, there’s a sight to be seen. By living in Arizona, I believe our expectations of beauty have been escalated in very perceptible ways.
It’s pure joy to witness the authentic drama of our scenery and the resulting art it elicits. That drama can be appreciated in the subtleties of the architecture of our majestic mountains, the impact of our intense light, and the vibrancy of color you can find everywhere. It’s our Zephyr – light, born on the winds of the desert, that inspires. It leads the artist to the divine choices of color that are meant to be noticed, often begging the question; what is your pleasure, kicking back or kicking it up a notch.
It’s the many counterparts that blossom opportunities by the thousands for an artist like me, to add our interpretation to life’s natural perfection.
Finding that perfect viola in the rich layers of the journey you take with the artist, is a chance to convey the essence of this stunning treasure that we live near, and it make your own.
My fundamental interests spring from lifelong travel, but often, my inspiration comes from growing up within minutes from Arizona’s dramatic scenery and loving everyday life in such a rich and diverse culture. There is such a mix here, of the old and the new, the familiar and the unexpected.
Having raised my family and spent a wonderful career in medicine and the business side of medicine, I finally have the time to pursue the other things I love. Over the years, I have been patiently taking thousands of pictures, waiting for that moment in time, where I could focus on being an artist.
My fascination with visual beauty provides a natural thread that pairs paint, design, color, and brush strokes to prepare a scene as my gift to the viewer. The process for me is intense, consuming and at the same time enjoyable and sometimes almost meditative. There is a rhythm to this process, just as there is in everything in life, particularly when you slow down and pay attention to it. Painting leaves me intrigued, inspired, and most of all grateful to my collectors, for our shared experience with a painting. I love having this opportunity to express life in this way, and its especially fulfilling when it brightens the day of old friends and new.