Artist Statement

In my current series, I am painting everyday people taking pride in their work because I want to pay homage to the unsung workers who make our lives better through their service. People in blue-collar jobs, like the barista, butcher, crossing guard, grocery clerk, or hair dresser, are often overlooked. This theme attracts me because our work defines us and tells the world who we are. We also often overlook the beauty in the everyday scenes that surround us.

I am drawn to painting local people from my Takoma DC neighborhood and nearby Takoma Park, Maryland because I have an opportunity to get to know my subjects personally. I select them because they foster a sense of belonging and community in my hometown through their friendliness and service.

ABOUT ME

Growing up, I wanted to be an artist. But my father closed that door saying he would not countenance my becoming a “starving artist.” Instead, much to my parents’ dismay, I became a Harvard-educated cop

I moved to Washington, D.C. directly after college to work on a U.S. Senator’s staff and lived on Barracks Row on Capitol Hill. While living on the Hill, I became a three-time victim of crime. As a result, I found myself drawn to the job of police officer as a means of providing public service. I intended it to be a way station on my career path, but instead, my 2-year stint turned into a 26-year career in which I rose from beat cop to assistant chief of police. Along the way, I served as a lieutenant in the Homicide Branch, as a commander of a patrol district, and as an assistant chief for Chief Charles Ramsey, who helped greatly reform the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) of Washington, D.C.

Once I retired from MPD, I returned to making art and took courses at Montgomery College and the Yellow Barn, as well as a wonderful six-week workshop at the Florence Academy of Art. I completed the 3-year Master Artist Program (MAP) taught by Glen Kessler through the Compass Atelier in March of 2023. I have continued my art studies by taking classes and workshops from Robert Liberace through the Art League of Virginia.

My paintings have been juried into the 8th and 9th Annual South-Atlantic Juried Exhibition at the Montpelier Center for the Arts in Virginia. Four of my genre paintings appeared in my thesis show for the MAP at the Strathmore Mansion in Bethesda, Maryland from February 14, 2023-March 11, 2023. More recently, I received an honorable mention from Eric Westbrook for my “Kennilworth Gardens” painting at the Women’s Club of Chevy Chase show, April 12-14, 2024, and that painting also was sold. At the Great Art at Small Prices (GASP) show at the Artists in Middleburg cooperative gallery, I received second place from the juror for my “Thrashers Rum” painting. The show runs from November 2, 2024 through January 5, 2025.

I have completed a portrait commission for a local school principal, and would be happy to accept additional portrait commissions.