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.

I began painting in oils around age eight at the family's ranch in Carmel Valley, guided by parents who set me up with easel, sketch box, brushes and tubes of paint. 

As teenagers, during summers, 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 try to closely observe light, shadow and color to create an authentic visual and emotional equivalent to the experience of being in the landscape.