For me, the best part of being an artist is the ability to bring joy and beauty to the lives of others. After my son passed away from a rare cancer in 2019, I sought refuge in the creative process and found it to be very therapeutic and healing. I see life differently now and that view is reflected in my work, where I strive to turn the ordinary into the extraordinary.
BLUE CRAB BOOGIE
I’ve always had a soulful connection with the ocean and sea life, which inspired me to create this beautiful blue crab painting. I then had it professionally scanned so I can offer high resolution fine art giclée prints!
I grew up on the water and regularly went crabbing and fishing with my mom and dad. Those were magical days full of so many wonderful memories. At the time, I didn’t really know much about crabs, but have discovered some very interesting facts since then!
The scientific name for blue crabs is very appropriate -- Callinectes sapidus, which means “beautiful savory swimmer.” They got that one right! While both sexes have brilliant sapphire-tinted claws, females have an additional display of color – gorgeous red highlights on the tips of their pincers!
Female blue crabs mate only once during their entire lives, and they can release more than two million eggs per brood! On the other hand, males will mate with multiple females during their lifespan.
These delightfully colorful crabs take up residence along the east coast, stretching all the way from Nova Scotia to the Gulf of Mexico, and even further south to the Caribbean and along the coasts of Argentina and Uruguay. Nowhere is the crab more iconic, though, than the Chesapeake Bay. In the waters off Maryland and Virginia, the blue crab population thrives in the brackish estuaries and salt marshes.
As bottom-dwellers, their main foods are mussels, snails, fish, plants, and even smaller, soft-shelled blue crabs. They’re opportunistic feeders who are important in managing the populations of the animals and fish they eat.
Blue crabs have adapted over time to have hind legs that function. Their fifth pair of legs are shaped like paddles which make them excellent swimmers. They are very quick to defend themselves with their front pincers, so be careful when handling them!
I come from a family of creatives. My Mother was an expert at quilting and horticulture, and she sewed many of my clothes by hand. My Father was a writer and photographer, who also crafted exquisite dollhouses. I’ve always been captivated by the creative process and am constantly exploring a variety of mediums and techniques, including painting, photography, alcohol inks, fluid art, mixed media, acrylics, and collage.
Inspiration is everywhere, and my imagination is sparked by everything I see, feel, and experience, whether traveling the world or exploring my own backyard. The time I spend creating nurtures my soul and takes me to a place of calmness and serenity. I hope that when you view my work, you will experience the same sense of peacefulness and wonder.
