about me

Born in San Francisco, I grew up in a house filled with paintings and sculpture, and art was a frequent topic of conversation. I was inspired by artist parents Mireille and Phil Wood, my grandfather Gottardo Piazzoni, cousin Russ Chatham and great-uncle Maurice del Mué. All painted the landscape on location.

As teenagers during summers at the family's ranch in Carmel Valley, my cousin Russ and I would paint the landscape around us: oaks and hills, brushy canyons, barns and fences – and tack our paintings up on the wall of the ranch house porch, an impromptu rural art gallery. 

Earning a B.A. (University of California Berkeley) and an M.A. (San Francisco State University) in English, I taught college composition and literature for several years in New York and California. I also worked in educational media and photography, and was active in theater and music. 

Since the 1980s I've exhibited

professionally in numerous one-man and group shows. My studio is in Marin County, California.

I complete smaller paintings directly from nature, and use outdoor work as a basis for larger studio canvases. 

I aspire to create an authentic visual equivalent to the experience of being in the landscape.