Teaching at New Orleans Academy of Fine Arts

My advanced training in art came through Eastern Michigan University,
The School of The Art Institue Chicago, and The University of Illinois, School of Art and Design, Chicago.  In 1991 to expand my illustrating abilities, I began further studies of figure drawing with Auseklis Ozols in master classes at The New Orleans Academy of Fine Arts. 

I joined the faculty of  NOAFA  in 1994 and since that time have taught
courses in life drawing, gouache techniques, advanced gouache,
and botanical illustration.

 Painting with Gouache:

Gouache is an amazingly versatile medium, and in this class we cover a wide range of creative possibilities, from precise realism to impressionistic abstraction.

Gouache is water-based with no toxic fumes. It may be used with the techniques of watercolor or oil; and with unique techniques such as Black Ink Wash Off.   
There will be various in-class assignments as well as opportunity for more individual investigation and expression with assignments done outside of class.

Advanced Gouache:

This course continues to explore the medium. There will be greater opportunity for self-direction and expression, while continuing to work from still life, photos, and the outdoors. We will experiment further with Black Ink Wash Off, a technique that gives an effect like no other. In each advanced gouache class we have assembled a beautiful book that consists of poems chosen and expressed artistically by each student.

Botanical Illustration:    with gouache*

* Working toward the creation of a botanical portrait that is both accurate
   and aesthetically pleasing

* Observing early botanical illustration, where the entire plant was
   described and named, and the more recent illustration style of
   showing just the flower and local leaves

* Leaving room for a more stylistic approach

* Using perspective, studying form, shape and color

   Paintings 
  

    Audubon Street                                                             Continuum

   Kumquat ( Fortunella spp.)                                       Kumquat, Yaupon, Camellia

           Life Drawing
                                                    

What began as a solution to an illustration problem has become a true love. For me drawing the figure is endlessly fascinating and challenging.  I ask, " By what means can I communicate to the viewer of my art, all that I see as I stand before the model, not only the reality of the physical body, the flesh and bone, existing solidly in its own space, but also, hopefully, some part of the unique individual spirit as well."