• A detailed pencil sketch of a young girl with shoulder-length hair, smiling and showing her teeth, wearing a patterned top.

    Granddaughter

  • A black and white painting of a pond with a lone tree with leaves that appear like cherry blossoms on the bank. The tree's reflection is visible in the water, and there are distant trees and a cloudy sky in the background.

    Mirror reflection

  • Black and white still life drawing of a ceramic vase, a bowl, a smaller container, and a sprig of leaves on cloth.

    First charcoal still life

  • A black and white still life painting of a vase with flowers on a table.

    An exercise in black & white

  • A black and white portrait sketch of a woman with styled hair, wearing a necklace and a blazer, facing slightly to the left.

    My first sketch of a portrait by a master artist (it didn’t entirely look like his though)

  • A still life painting of white flowers in a vase, a wooden basket of yellowish round fruits on a red table, and a white cloth, with a dark background and a light-colored top section.

    My first still life in oil

  • Still life painting featuring a large, ornate brass and ceramic bowl, and several smaller vases of various shapes and colors, set against a dark background.

    My third still life - painting metals

  • Still life painting of a vase with white and red flowers, a red folding fan, a brass cup, and a white teacup on a green surface. Gray textured background.

    Oil painting #5

  • A vibrant bouquet of various flowers including roses, lilies, and irises in a blue vase placed on a brown table against a gray background.

    Oil painting #6 - it was fun arranging the flowers too

  • Still life painting of a white floral arrangement in a vase, with glass bottles, a decorated box, a ceramic pitcher, yellow flowers, and a paper lemon on a draped white cloth against an orange background.

    My seventh oil painting - not quite finished

  • A painting of a woman with dark hair and light skin, wearing a large beige hat and a white garment, with a slight smile and rosy cheeks.

    An unfinished portrait - I stopped because I fell in love with her just as she is

  • Neurographic Art

Art as Therapy

I believe that we are all gifted with some form of creative self-expression. If our Creator (who some people call God, Source, Great Spirit) created us in it’s image, then we are also creator beings.

I feel that creation is the greatest form of self-expression. Some of us create using words - telling stories, writing poems. Others of us create music, dance, and artistic performances. And still others of us create art, photography, weaving, quilt-making, sewing, knitting, crocheting, basketmaking, jewelry-making - the list is virtually endless. I feel quite grateful to have tried my hand at most of these things during my lifetime, starting as a child when I learned to knit and sew as a 4-H member for eight years.

I love creating art. I was fortunate to have had the opportunity to study drawing and painting in New York City for a couple of years with my truly gifted teacher (and cousin), Leah Lopez. I see myself as a work in progress - always learning and willing to grow in skill as well as in different expressions.

I’ve just begun offering an art form based on something called “Neurographica.” Neurographica is an art form that was created by Russian psychologist Pavel Piskarov in 2014. It is an intuitive art form that involves mindfulness and intentionality. "Neuro" relates to neurons or cells that carry messages throughout your body from your brain, and "graphics" means artistic symbols or imagery. It’s a practice I’m excited to bring into my work because of it’s transformative power and because it’s fun! We have over 100 billion neurons that transmit information from the brain to the rest of the body, this process can be used to change (that is, improve) their connectivity. In fact, neurographic artworks resemble neurons and cells. Engaging in this creative process encourages our brains to make new neural pathways and connections. Focusing on an issue, question, or intention while working on an artwork directs more of our neurons towards the issue, question, or intention and enhances our ability to solve problems, make decisions, and even relieve stress and pain. Neurographic art is not only a wonderful relaxation, healing, and mindfulness tool, but can transform your life.

I’m including a few of the art works I created during my classes with Leah. The charcoal drawing of the child was created in a class with Crystal Dunn, Director of the Johnson County Center for the Arts in Mountain City, TN. I’m also including some Neurographic work I’ve done recently.