The inspiration for this collage was the color orange. Not wanting to be tied down to a specific thumbnail sketch, I cut out some flower shapes and let it lead me to a different direction. more »
I am constantly inspired by the geometric shapes of Des Moines, Iowa. Grand Avenue is a direct route leading into downtown. The buildings are familiar, but there is always some kind of new construction going on -- changing the silhouette of the skyline. more »
The challenge of this sunflower series is designing a fresh and interesting collage worthy of this bold and beautiful flower. I never tire of drawing these large blooms and all their interesting details. more »
Usually I begin with the flowers and work my way around the design. This one was different -- the vase was the focus. I changed the peonies to dahlias; the shape reminded me of the full, spidery petal shapes. Red-painted daisies were added to the bunch. more »
This painting began first as a watercolor. Then I decided to switch media and create a collage using bolder colors. I used the watercolor painting as a springboard for the new design. more »
I am continually interested in old barn structures, and I photographed this one in Van Buren County, Iowa. I was on my way to the Bentonsport Artisans Co-op and this barn appealed to me, with the tilting brick silo and torn roof. more »
My inspiration for this acrylic collage are the shapes of various buildings in downtown Des Moines. I love the different shapes, with all their details that make up an interesting design. The challenge is a complex design of familiar buildings in the downtown environment using bright colors. more »
Bentonsport, Iowa is a quaint, picturesque village to visit and many artists come to paint it in the various seasons. This particular caboose is a rental cottage at present. more »
In this particular landscape, the bridge is a cropped shape, capturing the gentle curve of the structure. The focus was on the curved shape leading the viewer's eye into the picture. more »
This particular bouquet was very full with the lemon and cadmium yellow sunflowers -- they grabbed center stage. I love them because they are bold and beautiful in the arrangements. I stuffed them into the vase with the fuchsia zinnias and lavender cosmos. more »