Creating work for the “Inspired by Nature” themed exhibition was not a stretch for me since the natural world has been my inspiration for many years. Landscapes, imagined and known, have influenced my paintings because as a child and young adult I spent every summer of my life in the Catskill mountains and the Berkshire hills. And now, for the past 40 years, the beauty of Chautauqua and the surrounding area has enriched my life as well as that of my family. “A River Runs Through It” and “New Beginnings” are just two examples that celebrate the visual beauty and emotional impact of nature through painting and drawing. Watercolor is a challenging medium. But I have come to love the spontaneous effects of fluid washes combined with the expressive line of drawing. As the saying goes, “Watercolor is like life. Better get it right the first time … you don’t get a second chance!”