"I began considering them as a subject for painting after the death of both my parents a few years ago," she says. "In the family transition that followed, I became the repository for all of my family's photos. From them I created a series of albums for my sister and three brothers, recording, as best I could, a photographic history of both sides of the family."

"In the process, I found myself strangely moved by these images of people, now gone, who were so youthful and full of life at the time the photos were taken. Lives, frozen for a moment and preserved. Except for the period clothing, they could be any of us, me, my husband, my children. They were as alive then as we are now. The feeling of empathy is almost impossible to explain, and I began to wonder if I could communicate it wordlessly, in paintings – bring these people back to life, just enough..."

From that original series, she has moved on to explore the magic of old photographs from various sources: friends' collections from their attics, as well as historic photos from various sources (see the 2006 and 2007 works on this page from old Richmond and those on the "Avalon Series" page). "Those that attract me seem to suggest an age, a time – they feel iconographic to me in some way," she says.

Invariably, the photos are sepia or black and white.

"Color photos would not really interest me," she says. "They simply do not have the same atmosphere, or allow me the same freedom." Although she began working primarily in warm, sepia tones, closer to the originals, she has gradually added more and more color. The degree and the nature of the color are suggested by the era and the photograph itself.

"Sometimes they seem to talk to me," she says.

Works may be purchased from the artist directly, unless marked as "Not Available". The medium for all is oil on panel. Prices begin at $850 and increase, depending on size. No framing is necessary.