Photographs by ChiChi Ubiña

Where did you grow up?
Seattle, Washington

What influences did you have growing up that made you become an artist?
I was exposed to art early on in every form (music, dance, theatre, museums, etc.) and those experiences sparked the well-spring of my own creativity. Until I was fourteen, when we moved closer to town, we lived on a bluff overlooking the Puget Sound with an unobstructed view looking west toward the Olympic Mountains. I can’t underestimate what a daily dose of that magnificent view had on me: the constantly changing light, sky, water, distant mountains and sunsets. It’s very close to the spiritual and is still with me to this day, always will be.

Tell us a bit about your art:
Now it is almost all abstract. Most of my training is academic, however; I took years of anatomy & figure drawing, which I consider the foundation for any artist, whether abstract or representational. In 1995, I won first prize in the national Faber Birren Color Award Show for my unique and creative use of color, but now I work mainly in white, shades of white and black & white.

What would you consider your style?
Abstract and expressionistic.

How long have you been painting? Where did you study?
I’ve been painting for twenty years. I studied at The Art Students League, the National Academy of Design and Parsons in New York City. My B.A. Degree is in Writing from the University of Washington, as my parents didn’t approve of me majoring in art in college!

Do you ever do commissioned work?
Yes, under certain circumstances.

What are some questions you ask your clients before you begin a project?
My favorite commissions are from people who say “we need one of your paintings in this size” and leave the rest up to me. I am lucky to have had many of these commissions for which I am very grateful and I know my clients are happy too.

Are your clients – designers, homeowners, collectors?
They are designers, homeowners and several corporate collectors.

Who are some artists that have influenced your work, and how?
Artists who have inspired me are Grace Mitchell, who is among the very few artists who can paint the essence of light. Goya for his great emotionality, Rauschenberg for the feeling of freedom his work exudes and Antonio Tapies for his work’s boldness, rooted in reverence.

What are some trends we should look out for in art?
This past Fall, I saw a lot of large-scale installations in Chelsea, so this seems to be a trend on the rise, especially with young artists.

How does your art reflect in what you wear?
I am very sensitive to what “line” clothing creates on the body. I have the same sensitivity to line in my art. Combining textures (in my art & what I wear) is secondary to line, but very important. For instance, I like to wear both smooth & rough articles of clothing like chunky silver accessories with smooth cotton or wool.

Tell us about your upcoming show:
The show will consist of my abstract paintings, plus some sculpture and works on paper. Tatiana Mori is an excellent curator and she has also asked me to do a special sale of my one of a kind art wear/jewelry at the Bendheim Gallery on March 26 & 27. So many artists throughout time have done jewelry and she understands that it is an art form, just like I do.