What is your personal artistic motto or mission in a sentence or two?

Art is a realm where imagination and reality collide to produce a unique representation of my journey through life …

What are three words that describe your style?

Unique, surreal, story-like

Where are you coming from and how did you start your artistic journey?

Like all artists I loved art since is I was a child. Whether it was making doll clothes, coloring, drawing or painting, I was totally immersed. As an educator, because of this early start, art became integrated into everything I did, whether teaching college biology or special education preschool, holding arts and craft groups on a cruise ship, giving talks on art, painting classes at a local art store and multiple art & sip evenings. I’m a former biologist who loves nature, takes thousands of scenic photos a year, each with the potential to inspire a piece of art.  A simple view, memory or experience can be claimed, moments in time to share by transforming then into tangible visions. My father, John J. McCarthy, was the first to encourage my art, hence my studio name.

What inspires you to create? What holds you back?

My age…When you become a professional artist at 70 you realize you don’t have that much time… so you have to make the most of every day. A visual person, I have always loved the vibrant colors of nature which inspire my art. My thousands of photos save the visual memories of nature that are the building blocks for my paintings while claiming the journey, the story, the vision and that moment in time as my own!!

What holds you back?  My imagination and doubt. Everything is perfect in my mind… realizing perfection on canvas is impossible and makes me hesitate at times.

What is your favorite piece you have created or favorite art experience, and why?

My favorite recent piece is a surreal elephant swimming under a moon; painted after watching too many YouTube videos of elephants swimming. I just enjoy the colors and the surreal feel of floating. My favorite art experience is my Solo Show “Inspired by Nature” at Green Spring Gardens. During the reception I was thrilled to hear compliments from strangers, it was a true confirmation for me that I am an Artist. (Selling five paintings, was a tangible validation.)

Tell us something positive that has happened to you in the last month?

I was lucky enough to have my first solo show “Inspired by Nature” at the Historic House of Green Spring Gardens. Also being accepted to show my art at multiple venues (The Art League Gallery, Del Ray Artisans Gallery, Palette 22 Restaurant, Snouts & Stouts Brewery, Solo Show at Green Spring Gardens, SAG – Green Spring Gardens Show.)

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