The creation of this artwork for the front awning was part of the 125 year celebration of Warwick's, the oldest family owned bookstore in the United States.

The inspiration for the artwork for Fire Station 38 comes from the natural surroundings of Otay Mesa. Rather than do just one “snapshot” representing one view and one moment in time, I looked at the vistas from high and low and I observed different seasons. I also looked at sunrises and sunsets. I wanted to represent myriad views to celebrate the distinctive characteristics of the region where FS 38 is located. 

I work in watercolor and have been experimenting with the look of edges and textures that are created with the different consistencies of the water to paint ratio. My work is informed by the sensuous edges seen in Helen Frankenthaler’s paintings. She is an American abstract expressionist painter. The use of black and white is a personal homage to the delicate balances of dark and light values Ansel Adams used so effectively in his iconic photographs of American vistas. The sharp contrast of dark and light helps to highlight the varying horizon lines moving through each panel, and recreates the perspectives one might experience on a leisurely hike through the area. The black and white color palette is striking and fits nicely into the black, ivory, and greens of the building architecture.