Description
From the beginning, my mother, Peregrine fed my imagination and senses in
every possible way with fairy tales, art, beautiful food, music, opera,
poetry and trips into nature, the seaside and the mountains. We lived
a nomadic life moving from apartments in New York City to shared
houses on Fire Island. By the time I could walk I had the incredible
freedom to explore up and down the beach on my own. My mother’s
artwork was a steady constant and for her it was second only to my
wellbeing.
Like most young children, I drew and painted freely. Around
age eleven, I began to compare my artistic results to my mother’s
masterful art. After years of practice, her drawing and sureness of
line was perfection. Drawing realistically is often a ‘deal breaker’ for
many beginning aritsts. At the time I could not find my way around
it. Even though I was encouraged and praised for my efforts, I
escaped into music for six years until I went to college 2,000 miles
away in Boulder Colorado. The second term there, I began to study
art. I found the perfect balance away from home to explore and
experiment with art on my own. On visits home I received unconditional
support from my mother and stepfather, also an artist. I often
wondered if I would have found my way to the easel had I been
born into the more conventional family I longed for in middle childhood.
Years later, after a hiatus from making art following the birth
of my son, Peregrine enticed me back by inviting me to the many
open life drawing sessions in the area that she attended. By then
my mother was teaching part-time and continued to offer guidance
when I needed it. Years of collaboration in our art followed
with positive mutual support and critique. We worked together at
two endeavors, Fantasy Quilts and Portfolio Rubber Stamps. An
easy rhythm developed where we would work out ideas and images
separately, come together for brainstorming and then return
to our studios to complete final designs. We knew each other well,
our strengths, weaknesses and points of reference in art history.
We shared discoveries of new artists and old. I rarely felt a sense of
competition or envy between us over our artwork. I know the camaraderie
and sharing we had was rare and I miss it.
This is our story.