Coco Pan Artist

Letting the unique qulities of watercolor and ink flow on the page, this image is a statement of appreciation and acceptance in finding beauty in the imperfect and impermanent. Realizing my own beauty in all its imperfections and accepting that who I am in the present moment is exactly who and where I am meant to be.

Through years of experience I know how watercolor and ink may move across the texture of the paper. With confident brushstrokes I lay down the color and shape I want to convey but then, as is the nature of this water medium, its takes on a life of its own, and it flows and moves in a way I can’t always control. As I do in my life, I accept where it takes me and find the beauty in where I find, it here and now.

Moondance represents the feeling of freedom and joy I’ve experienced when the moon brings to light what would normally remain hidden were it not for the illumintation of the full moon. Exprimenting with collage and acrylic has given me a new freedom to express joy.

Watercolor

Watercolor

Private Collection

The peacefulness of the Koi Ponds of Japan influenced this work. This painting was accomplished after a class with Jean Haines where we used a wash of granulating watercolors to create the pond for beautiful Koi to swim.

Inspired by the local kelp forests this watercolor takes me under the waves without having to hold my breath.

Upon Reflection is one of a series of small (5” x 7”) Semi-Abstract Landscapes where the landscape is found in an abstract wash of colors. This reminds me of a lake deep in the hills of a mountain landscape.

Hidden Lake is one of a series of small (5” x 7”) Semi-Abstract Landscapes where the landscape is found in an abstract wash of colors. I see a jewel of a lake deep in the valley of these varied hills.

Lavender Haze is one of a series of small (5” x 7”) Semi-Abstract Landscapes where the landscape is found in an abstract wash of colors. I see a haze of lavender fields in this Alpine Mountainscape.

Multimedia Collage

“So in the largest sense, we find only the world we look for. What I see is mine. The question is not what you look at but what you see.” This quote from Henry David Thoreau resonates with the way I see life.

This watercolor is dear to my heart. The castle of Forte Sangallo was built in 1501 and attributed to Antonio Sangalo the Elder, a specialist in war fortifications. The fort was built to defend Nettuno from attacks by sea; at the time Nettuno was considered the “breadbasket of Lazio”. But it isn’t the historical aspect that intrigues me but the memories associated with this site. This view is what I see on my walk down to the beach in Nettuno, Italy, my maternal family’s birthplace and our family’s summer holiday home. So many memories of sunny beach days with friends and family under the umbrella, long lazy pasta lunches under the bamboo shade cover and afternoon naps on the lounge chairs.

Watercolor Abstract

Private Collection

Watercolor Abstract

Private Collection

Amida Buddha is a paining of the Great Buddha from Kamakura Japan. This bronze buddha is over 35 feet high and is the largest outdoor Buddha in Japan. It was painted on a wash of granulating watercolors with splashes of gold dust after a lesson from watercolor artist Jean Haines. I think this Buddha is looking particularly forlorn because it was channeling the sadness I felt as I painted it while watching the attack on DC on January 6, 2021.

Private Collection

Watercolor

Morning walks on our Pacifica beach inspire me to see the beauty in the ordinary and I find subjects such as the kelp that washes up on shore to be fascinating.

Watercolor

California Poppies as seen from walk from Pedro Point to Rockaway in Pacifica, CA.

Watercolor

As sunflowers turn their heads to face the sun I like to think they insire in us an optimistic view. Sometimes living in Pacifica with its foggy summers it’s good to have this sunflower to remind me of the warmth and light of a summer day!

Watercolor

Private Collection

This painting of Sakura reminds me of the Cherry Blossom Festivals in Tokyo, Japan. Each blossom on its own is so simple but when warmed by the sun and the time is right they put on spectacular shows of delicate clouds of pink and signal the arrival of spring and new life.

Watercolor

Private Collection

I painted this lotus for my sister. It is a lotus flower from Shinobazu Pond at Ueno Park in Tokyo, Japan. The lotus flower is a reminder of the beauty that comes from change, the magic that a new beginning brings, and the seed of potential that’s buried in the most unlikely places.

Watercolor

Delicate white flowers grow out of a fall hedgegrow of granulating colors and bright berries. Painted afer a class with my art teacher and watercolor artist Jean Haines.

Watercolor

Delicate white flowers grow out of a riot of spring color. I learned to paint these white flowers on a variety of granulating washes from my art teacher and watercolor artist Jean Haines.

Watercolor

Haunted branbles bring out the beauty of fall in these granulating washes of golden light. Techniques from my art teacher and watercolor artist Jean Haines.

Watercolor

I learned to paint these sweet dragonflies from my teacher and watercolor artist Jean Haines. Their association with positive transformation, dragonflies symbolize new beginnings, good luck and harmony which makes them ideal gift for my friends

Watercolor

The summer I moved to Pacifica we were treated to months of visits from the humpback whales. As if to welcome me to my new home these amazing creatures put on a show I will never forget. In hopes that they will return I painted these and several other humpback whales.

Watercolor

Merizo was one of my favorite places on Guam. When I was living on Guam it was a special treat to drive to this southern village where I could still hear the whispers of the original people of Guam. This church was built well after the Spanish explorers came and settled and it was the mix of cultures that made this so visually atractive to me.

This is one of my earliest watercolors.

Watercolor

In a class by watercolor artist Jean Haines I learned to paint the impression of the Bridge of Sighs in Venice, Italy. Getting lost in the far flung back passages of Venice is one of my favorite ways to spend an afternoon so I painted this as a reminder of the days when I could travel and lose myself in history and art.

Watercolor