Artist Statement: This contemporary icon portrays Mary, Mother of God. She is shown outside the world in the glory of an eternal sunrise. As a mother would do, she is cradling in her arms our troubled world.
Bio: Born a Yankee, I grew up, studied and worked in the Northeast: Boston, Providence, Philadelphia and New York City. Relocating to the Florida Panhandle, in 2005 at a workshop taught by Teresa Harrison, I became acquainted with the wonderful world of icons and was hooked. Still a student of Teresa's whenever possible, I have also studied under Phil Zimmerman, Patricia Resmonda, Suzanne Schenk and Vladislav Andrejev.
Some contemporary iconographers continue to use the traditional egg tempera paints. I prefer a high-quality non-toxic acrylic paint that comes close to conveying the velvety texture of egg tempera. The gold leaf used is 24 karat.
Topics for icons include Old and New Testament stories and events in the life of Christ and other holy people -- the reason they are often referred to as "the Gospel in line and color" and "windows to Heaven." I base my icons on prototypes drawn from both the Eastern and Western churches, both time-honored ones and more modern ones, as long as they conform to tradition and church canons. Writing icons provides me with the joy of pursuing an ancient art through a modern medium.
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