My Fans
Inspiration can be mysterious … or it can pounce into your mind in an “ah-ha!” moment. In my case, it’s always a pounce, driven by a song, a poem, a dream, my kids, or the excitement of finding a new weird object. Like a mop bucket, a harvest basket, or a vintage cast iron wheel. And when I see that object, like many artists I see the finished work, with an aura: a life.
Enjoy the inspirations here.
And by all means give me a call or send me an email to arrange a studio visit!
707 299 7069
Cats
Yep, I have four. Shaboom, JJ. Fancy and Princess. You know where they sleep.
Cat on a Bed.
Cats in the Rafters.
Blame the Boots
My husband had a fit when I used this 1939 fan valued at $1500. I told him “Blame the Boots”
Blame the Boots.
Blame the Boots, detail.
Terrified
Come On… Really? Can a Dentist Chair inspire anyone?
Terrified - $2,800
Car Hop, $2500.
Car Hop
My Mom was a roller skating car hop at Stans Drive in Sacramento 1951, 52, 53. I would sit in the red vinyl booth and play Kay Starr on the jukebox while she worked.
Pink Shoelaces — $2,800
50s on Five — The Chordettes — Pink Shoelaces
Now I've got a guy and his name is Dooley
He's my guy and I love him truly
He's not good lookin', heaven knows
But I'm wild about his crazy clothes
He wears tan shoes with pink shoelaces
A polka dot vest and man, oh, man
Tan shoes with pink shoelaces
And a big Panama with a purple hat band
Ooh-ooh, ooh, ooh
Ooh-ooh, ooh, ooh
Banbury Cross
This piece is based on an eighteenth century poem that I’ve had in my head since I was a little girl.
Ride a cock-horse to Banbury Cross,
To see a fine lady upon a white horse;
Rings on her fingers and bells on her toes,
And she shall have music wherever she goes.
Here, our fine lady has white horses on her skirt. She’s got the rings on her fingers — with this doorknob as a diamond. Cool! And I put Christmas sleigh bells on her skates. And of course, a bird. Her skirt is a mop bucket. Because after all, how could a piece inspired by such a beautiful poem have anything other than a mop bucket as a body! But she does! Her head is a heater and her back is a fan.
It's Raining Cats and Dogs!
It’s raining cats and dogs! And it’s just fun. You’ll see that I used glitter paint to make the cats and dogs shine. And she was made during the winter, of course — that’s probably what brought the whole piece on.
Again, I’ve used a mop bucket with the wringer in it for the body. Bicycle sprockets for her flowers, and she’s got a pulley neck and roller skates. And she’s noisy when the wind blows.
Superman
This piece was inspired by Chris, my son. Now in his forties, he had a Superman cape since before he was three years old. And he was so into it that the neighbors used to drop off Superman capes on my doorstep, or tuck them in my screened-in door to leave them for him. Once when I washed one of his capes and put it on the clothesline, I looked out and see that he’s literally hanging from the line because he wants to get his cape back. I had to sneak capes out to clean them.
Of course this Superman piece is multitasking. While saving the world, he’s also holding flowers. His cap is from a motorcycle. And his feet are from a laser cutter that I named “Lucille,” from the Kenny Rogers song. This laser cutter would just quit in the middle of cutting. And I just kept thinking, “You picked a fine time to leave me, Lucille!”
Chris now works as an arena rigger in Northern California. And he's still a Superman.
Moon Shooting Stars $225
Moon and Stars
The celestial theme has always been part of my life — my daughter’s name is Summer Star. My interest has always been with the celestial, and on almost every other piece here you’re going to find stars. The moon and sun was the first piece I designed. It was easy for me to draw, but as I got better it got more intricate, and I put more design in it.