Portraits 2003 - 2008: Expats in Paris and Others

I painted these portraits while I was living in Paris and getting inspiration from the museums, buildings, parks, and interior spaces of that beautiful city.  I had a vision of creating a series of bold, colorful figurative paintings in the spirit of French post-Impressionists like Bonnard and Vuillard. I had only just started painting a couple of years before and didn't always know what I was doing, but Paris - and experience - turned out to be good teachers.

Initially I found my muses in the American and Anglophone expat community, mostly 30-something women who had come to Paris to live their dream (and/or escape heartbreak back home). For their portraits, I asked them to bring any personal “props” they might want featured: books, journals, favorite dresses or fabric, and so on. The 4 to 5-hour sittings became a chance for us to connect outside of French or American culture - to talk and drink tea, and discuss our lives while being “in the paint” together.

Later portraits include commissions I did for friends, family, and outside buyers who found me through my website or word of mouth.