Pastel Drawings

Ballet-Themed Pastel Drawings

While I may have earned a B.F.A. in Studio Art, with minor concentrations in Art History and Education, I am also an active, passionate ballet dancer and instructor. Years ago, I was a performer and ballet mistress with Attitudes in Motion Ballet Company, under the direction of Dieter Riesle, who was a principal dancer in the Hamburg Ballet and Frankfurt Ballet. The company performed all over Fairfield and Westchester Counties on a volunteer basis, including festivals such as the SoNo Arts Festival and Splash Festival in South Norwalk, CT. The company also performed in Manhattan, at the Rich Forum and the Palace Theater in Stamford, CT, and danced live on News 12 - Cablevision.

I trained primarily under Frank Ohman, formerly of the New York City Ballet, and with Robert Mann who is an Instructor for Dance Educators of America. I continue to study ballet under Dieter Riesle, and with Maralyn Myles in Greenwich, CT, and with Mimi Wallace in North Salem, NY.

I taught ballet and pointe for 7 years at the Academy of Dance Arts in Brookfield and New Milford, CT. Currently I am teaching teen/adult classes at Brookfield School of Performing Arts in Brookfield, CT, where I am also Artistic Director of the new BSPA ballet repertoire company. I am also the proud parent of a student at the School of American Ballet.

My past and present experience as a dancer and instructor give me unique insight to the lines of movement created by the human body in dance. Specifically, I enjoy the visual energy and expression found in the dynamic of a pas de deux (two people dancing). This is a relatively new series that I am working on. Many of the works have been gifted to the actual dancers depicted in the piece, or to close friends in the ballet industry. I am open to creating commissioned works in this genre. Please feel free to contact me if you are interested.

Philip as Fritz, 2013
8"x10"
Pastel on Paper

New York City Ballet
Works presented to Children's Ballet Master, and Assistant Children's Ballet Master

NYCB Nutcracker Children's Cast B, 2012
30"x30"
Pastel on Canvas; Decoupage frame (paper artwork by children of cast B)
Commissioned by NYCB Nutcracker Children's Cast B for Dena Abergel, Children's Ballet Master

(Click image for more detail)

Kaitlyn Gilliland as Sugar Plum Fairy, 2012
18" x 22"
Pastel on Paper
Commissioned by NYCB Nutcracker Children's Cast B for Kaitlyn Gilliland, Children's Assistant Ballet Master

(Click image for more detail)

We Gallery, Akron, OH
GlamNatural exhibition

You'll Never Get Rich (Rita Hayworth & Fred Astaire); Hollywood Series, 2012; 12"x16" pastel on paper

You Were Never Lovelier (Rita Hayworth & Fred Astaire); Hollywood Series, 2012; 12"x16"; pastel on paper [SOLD]

The two above drawings were created as part of an exhibition sponsored by GlamNatural at We Gallery in Akron, OH, where they were on exhibition from April 14, 2012 to April 28, 2012. The theme of the show is natural beauty/glamour.