Join me in my studio and look over my shoulder as I paint Shady Sidewalk, a large 40x40” painting from a visit to Washington DC.

I have always been attracted to paintings of people. I find the human body fascinating in its complex system of moving parts and I like exploring how figures express emotions through body language which can be read at a glance.

I found that doing sketches in acrylic paint freed me up to paint loosely and boldly.

I took the SPARK course from Art2Life.com to learn to be more playful and creative with my art. The lessons focus on differences, color, and composition. Check out my two videos about my experiences.

The National Museum of Women in the Arts is one of my favorite museums in DC, and it is the only museum in the world solely devoted to championing women artists.

I had the chance to tour several of the best art museums in DC. I was delighted to see works that were old favorites and also view new-to-me artists that sparked my creative juices.

Monet: The Early Years. This eye-opening exhibit at San Francisco's Legion of Honor Museum was a showcase of many of the artist's early landscapes and genre paintings, showing the progress of Monet's art career and revealing his influences and motivations.

Do you yearn for something beautiful for your wall that is a step up from your usual posters? Read my 7 tips for making your first purchase of fine art with confidence.