After raising my four children in the Chicagoland area, I moved Up North to

Petoskey. Since, childhood, I have been coming to our family home on

Lake Charlevoix, where my mother, artist Martha Landis, resided for over

40 years. My parents, of course, were a big influence on me. They had a

great appreciation for the arts and antiques, and the beauty of northern

Michigan. My mother was a recognized landscape painter, and provided

much inspiration and motivation for me to pursue this path as an artist. I

work mainly on interiors, still life, and the female figure. My passion as a

painter is working in oils.

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When I am painting a figure, I focus on the core of the body—where I

believe the heart and soul reside. I try to capture an emotion through body

gesture, clothing, and the way the light falls. Even the smallest gestures

can make a big impact. Sometimes it is a studied nonchalance that attracts

me, and sometimes, I will think of the title first, and then set up the figure.

But, my main objective is simply to spark a sense of joy. None of this is

meant to be profound or complicated. If someone can connect with a

painting, by emotion or familiarity to themselves or someone they know,

that just makes my day! Beauty is certainly subjective. It is so interesting

to see what grabs you as being beautiful. For me, the trigger to paint a

particular person doesn’t come from the face, but rather I am grabbed by

an attitude, poise, or a quiet elegance.

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My work can best be described as contemporary impressionism. After

getting a rough sketch in, I like to paint quickly, using loose, lush

brushstrokes. There is energy in the stroke, which I hope translates as

motion and energy to the viewer. My mother taught me that you need to

be confident in your brushwork, because “if you don’t believe it, no one else

will either.”

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One of the biggest challenges for an artist is simply arriving at your own

style. I did not pursue a formal art degree. I took many art classes in high

school and college, but most of my hands on training has been from

workshops offered by some of my favorite artists. Your personal style

derives from a compilation of all that you have observed combined with a

deep sense of self. There is an integrity in finding your own voice and

sticking to it. That does not mean you’re not always striving to improve and

move forward, but rather you develop a rhythm and a knowledge that is

uniquely your own.