Opening Reception “Perseverance”

Please join us for an opening reception with the artist!

Artist’s Statement:  I am an older emerging artist with a disability in western Massachusetts. Retired, I now dedicate my time to painting in oils, acrylics, watercolors and pastels.  My paintings are impressionist in style.  My themes include landscapes, waterscapes, floral still-life, and animals.  My teachers include Barbara Johnson, Lynne Adams, the late Jack Flynn, the late Edith Bugbee and others. 

I had a spinal cord injury at nineteen years old and  am paralyzed so use a wheelchair.  Due to some limitations in my arms and hands, I have made minor adaptations to paint and draw.  I primarily use a table easel or lap board to work on.  I tend to stay away from too much fine detail work due to my limited dexterity and fine motor skills.

As an  outdoor lover and power wheelchair user, I strive to find wheelchair accessible outdoor places I can visit for inspiration.   I sometimes paint outdoors (plein air) and in my home studio in Easthampton.

I was awarded a grant recently from the Massachusetts Cultural Council and Easthampton Cultural Council to develop a spring plein air series in. May at Easthampton’s newest wheelchair accessible trail, Mount Tom North Trail side.  It is a beautiful park-like setting and very scenic.  I refer to it as my “Happy Place”. 

I live with my husband Attorney Alfred Chamberland in Easthampton, MA with Alex, our son and our dog and cats.