Whether walking Oliver down a wooded path, beachside in Newport, or trail riding in the South, I have learned through the eyes of Ollie to see the beauty and uniqueness in my surrounds.

It is often said that it’s the little things in life that can make a big difference.

Years ago, bringing Oliver into our home, a 15-pound black lab puppy, seemed a simple solution to having become “empty nesters”. One year and 80 pounds later, that bundle of fur had changed my life.

Artist Susan Brereton emphasized the importance of texture in our work: the way something would feel if it were touched. Texture pulls the viewer in. I apply this principle in all my work.