I am an artist based in Culpeper, Virginia, born in Neuilly-sur-Seine, Paris. Yes, I speak French. But not because I was born in France. When I was 6, we moved to Moscow where I attended the French Elementary School. At 10, we moved to Washington DC where I attended 5th grade at Lafayette School and 6th and 7th grade at Annunciation School (yes, we also moved within a city!).
After that, we moved to Rome, Italy (where I am originally from) for the rest of middle and then high school (Italian) and College.
I started my career as a translator/interpreter at the American Embassy in Rome, eventually becoming the head of the translation unit. I worked there for 12 years.
Then, life circumstances brought me to the United States. I became a citizen. I have been working as a free-lance translator/interpreter here ever since.
On the side, but very intensely, I play the violin in the churches that my husband Bruce, pastors (Bluemont and Philomont in Loudoun County, VA) and with a country/bluegrass/vintage rock group (the Four Hits and a Miss) I play in nursing homes, rehab centers and senior centers in Virginia.
I am a mother and… a grandmother!! I speak Italian, English and French.
And I paint!!
How I Became a Culpeper, Virginia Artist
I have always drawn. At school, for boredom. With friends and family for fun.
I have been drawing faces since high school. I practiced drawing smiles, frowns, serious faces. I studied faces in different positions: front, slightly turned, profile, looking up, looking down. I had a “hat period”. I practiced drawing ballerinas, elegant women with interesting hairdos and dresses. So challenging!! So much fun!! However, I had not considered becoming an artist. I worked as a translator/interpreter. I traveled. I met interesting people. I love my job.
From Translator to Painter
The call to paint came latish in life, spurred by painter Bob Ross, with his love of painting and nature. His short, 25-minute sessions were informative and encouraging. One Christmas, my son gave me a few canvasses and I started painting.
Just like with faces and hats, I strive to reproduce my vision (or a reference picture) exactly. I study it meticulously, research online for tips and tutorials. Then I start painting. For a while, it looks nothing like what I had in mind or the picture. But little by little, with patience and lots of tweaks and repaints, I get closer and closer to my vision. And then it happens: I feel a stirring when I look at it. At that point, I need to be careful and not over-tweak it.
I would like my art to encourage the viewer with visuals of hope and light. Offering a sense of hopeful serenity. In some paintings there may be an added layer of quiet solitude or patient anticipation. A ray of light is always present. A friend commented that my paintings are “visual meditations”.
Today, as an artist in Culpeper, Virginia, my original oil paintings are shown at Village Frameworks & Gallery and Jewell Tone Music and Arts. My work is available to collectors across Northern Virginia, Charlottesville, and the Washington DC area, online and by commission. Browse my available paintings or find out more about commissions. I would love to hear from you!