BIO & THOUGHTS

I started my career as a freelance illustrator in 1984, back in the days when rubylith was cut daily. Ugh. From 1990 through 1993 I worked as the assistant to the Creative Director in a prestigious San Diego Advertising firm, where I was introduced to the joys of computer graphics. In 1997 I opened the virtual doors of Gorgeous George Graphics, my own computer based design firm.

My career has always been dual track. I create logos, brochures, web sites for clients. For myself, and the world at large, I create digital fantasy, goddess paintings. I call them paintings, despite the current prejudice against digital art, because...that's what they are. A computer is another tool in the artist's studio. I use a Wacom tablet, stylus, and software, specifically Corel Painter, just like I used to use an airbrush.

I usually start with a pencil drawing on paper which I scan into my image editing program, Corel Photopaint.

There I clean it up, create layers of different elements in the drawing, and save it as a Photoshop file so that I can open it Painter. Once in Painter, I use mostly the airbrushes, although the other natural media brushes available are also wonderful. I go back and forth between Painter and Photopaint, using filters in Photopaint sparingly to create special effects. I've found one must be very discerning about the use of preset filters as their overuse, or lack of creativity in use, generates a "canned" effect, which helps propagate the myth that digital art is not "really art".

The motives behind my art are: beauty, spirituality, and love. I've tried to be "trendy", I've tried to be "dark"...I've tried so many styles, all to no avail commercially, and leaving me spiritually dry. I didn't feel I was truly expressing myself. I felt many of my paintings were lifeless.

Eventually every artist finds his/her true voice, and I'm no exception. I returned to my roots and what felt natural to me. As a child I frequently drew women in costumes. Unfortunately, after several bouts with upset teachers I stopped drawing. I will never forget the day I opened a book in my high school's library and discovered the art of Salvador Dali. My insides exploded and I could hardly breathe. Yes, yes, this is art that touches my soul! I was hooked on surrealism and fantasy; inner stories told through a primal symbolism. Still, it took me many years to let myself create such work.

As a woman, I have shared with all women the journey of life, with many women the birth and raising of children, the joys and sorrows of marriage...and I've emerged with a profound appreciation for the female experience. My work focuses on the eternal feminine. I hope that when people see my art they feel encouraged, and recognize the goddess within themselves. What is it? It's the indescribable something that makes life "alive", the creative force, the love that permeates all. Call it whatever you want. I celebrate it with my paintings.