(Everlasting) I had always admired the water lilies of Claude Monet. To add to the color and passion of the painting, I explored with different colors on the water. The name of the painting, “Everlasting," came from my visit to Hawaii, where I saw a lily pond up close at the Kauai Hindu Monastery. The peaceful nature of the water lily pond made me think how the lilies would revel in peace for eternity.
(Lux Hiemis) My love for Latin gave me this title, which literally means “Light of Winter” in Latin. The myriad of colors in the sky reflects my profound admiration of Monet’s Houses of Parliament. With a house in Flagstaff, I was inspired to include a deer in this painting, having seen many of them in my own backyard.
(Barcarole) "Barcarole" is actually a form of music: a “boat song." In a barcarole, the music is composed in such a way that it mimics the gentle movements of a boat on the water, like the sailboat complemented by the piano. My inspiration for this painting was found on the cover of a much-loved piece of piano sheet music. As I was painting the yellow sheets over the piano, I was reminded of the dynamic way I had seen many masters of art portray folded fabric.
(Winter Mirror) The title is best portrayed through the central focus of the painting. As my main residence is in Phoenix, Arizona, a place where the idea of snow is implausible, I sought to paint this as a reminder of what I want to capture from my love of classic snow scenes.
(Crimson Guardian) The title refers to the cardinal looking into the log cabin with the window. The cardinal is looking at the house as if it will watch over its inhabitants in the winter. Having found beauty in similar images, I created this painting to reflect the warmth of the holiday season.
(Light in Darkness) I painted this church in the spirit of the holidays and utilized concepts of light and dark imagery that I love not only in art but also in literature and piano. The chapel radiates against the indigo sky as the light of warmth and community, overcoming the darkness. Such can happen with all of us in our heart, mind, and soul!
(Summer Vignette) A vignette is a detailed work of art that fades into the background without a definitive order for an aesthetic appeal. The composition of my lavender fields shows the expansiveness and beauty of nature with the myriad of purple pigments. I chose to call this painting Summer Vignette because it reminds me of a dream world I sometimes think of in times of stress. I am resting in the shining lavender fields with a book to read, smelling fresh-cooked food in a rustic house on a dirt road, and communing with nature. This painting is a lens into another world for me, and I couldn’t think of a more relaxing scene to compose for my times of rest and repose from work.
(Friendship) The two cardinals in this painting add a sense of warmth, which the yellow and red hues evoke, in the ice blue winter.
(Voices of Tumacácori) The bells in this painting are inspired by the Tumacácori National Historical Park in Arizona. One of many missions that Jesuit Padre Eusebio Kino operated in the 17th century, this place served as an important crossroads for both Native Americans and Spanish missionaries. Through the peal of the bells, one can hear the voices that urge us to be active servants of God, just like Padre Kino.
(Journey) The house, steps, and flowers lend the painting its title. In life, it is so easy to get focused on the final destination that we ignore the journey of climbing the steps towards that metaphorical "big house" we all want. Rather, we should embrace the steps we climb and enjoy the views around us.