My work took a change of direction at the beginning of 2017 when I was compelled to begin a series of paintings with crows as the subject. I’d observed and sketched crows for years, but I hadn’t painted them. The first three or four paintings in this series were rather dark and foreboding. A May trip to tulip gardens outside of Amsterdam, the Van Gogh Museum, and L’Orangerie in Paris, combined with a visit to Monet’s home and gardens in Giverney inspired me to juxtapose the crows with beautiful gardens and allusions to artists of the past. My new work vibrates with color and texture. (see more images under Paintings – Birds and Animals)