I came to Bermuda ten years ago with my husband, Jay, and our then six-year-old son, Jake. We are from a small New England town in western Massachusetts. I?m from a huge family whose members rarely live out of town, never mind out of the country, so this was a great adventure and continues to be so.

For such a short question, that?s a huge one. Art is a gift. It can be simple, profound, bright, dark or a million other adjectives, but it is always a gift. Every time I attempt to create a piece I receive a flood of new ideas and learn a host of small lessons. Each project is a journey, and at its end, if I have a work that is worthy of showing, it then becomes a gift to others.

In this show, all the pieces are watercolour on cold-pressed paper, with a bit of pencil, ink and gouache. I love how the medium actually does things before your eyes while you stand back and watch. Skies become stormy or transform into dramatic sunsets in a moment. It still strikes me as magic.

The movement of coloured water on the surface of paper is sometimes unexpected and annoying, if not infuriating. This must sound odd to anyone who is not familiar with the medium. Before you ask if I?m training pink elephants, let me explain. If you paint a nice, sunny, pink beach, then decide to paint a green beach umbrella on the beach, it will instantly mix with the green and become a hideous colour of brown. If that?s not horrifying enough, the pink area will also destroy all the neat scalloped edges of your umbrella and make them spiky, resulting in something that looks like ?The Giant Field Burr That Ate Horseshoe Bay?. This is just one of the many disasters that can befall the average watercolorist in a hurry. One of the first lessons one learns is not to rush a background wash.

I also love this medium?s versatility. Watercolours can be soft, detailed, bold or vibrant. Experimenting with different techniques by using sponges, corrugated cardboard, or even pressed leaves creates completely different effects. Paints can be manipulated on the paper by tilting the surface or by spraying it with water. It?s also an environmentally friendly medium that cleans up with a little soap and water, which is great for me. My studio gets pretty messy when I?m working!

My inspiration for this show has been my immediate environment. Our home is in the middle of a jungle, so you?ll see quite a few abstract pieces done with leaves. I did one portrait just to see if I could do it. Sarah was that subject, but my models are usually the farmers who work in the fields near our house. We are also blessed to have a beach at the end of our street. I?ve done a few water subjects, too.

Life is spectacular.

We have a garage that has recently been converted into a guest cottage/studio. This is the first exhibit that I have actually had a space of my own in which to work. It feels wonderfully extravagant. I used to paint on the dining room table, but that necessitated a major clean-up every time guests were coming over. That?s not great for one?s flow of creativity, nor my mood in general.

It feels that way! I?m constantly looking for good subjects. It?s a small miracle I don?t drive off the road daily. I love to paint people doing what they just do in their everyday lives. Consequently, when I see men selling fish on Trimingham Hill, I want to stop and take a photo. Other drivers in afternoon traffic may not appreciate this spontaneity. It really irks me that I have never been able to photograph anyone as they work in the gardens near Johnny Barnes? roundabout. Finding great subjects is very time consuming, but not something always best done 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The actual drawing and painting is done during school hours, and often late into the night when I can work uninterrupted.

It?s hard to say, as you can see by my description of my sort of ?full-time? job.

I?m not sure I?ve made it yet!

About 20 pieces will be on display with a wide variety of subjects and treatments. Recently, a friend asked me if I would do some simple abstract pieces. Abstracts often seem simple, but that is because someone has gone to a lot of trouble to weed out all non-essential elements. You wouldn?t believe how difficult ?simple? can be! However, there will definitely be some abstracts, as well as more traditional representational art.

I have been drawing and painting my entire life. It has always been my favourite pastime. Life drawing and other studio art courses were required as part of my BA in Art History at Boston College. For the past four years I have taught watercolour painting at Bermuda College and continue to learn a great deal from my fascinating and dedicated students.

The public is welcome tonight and children are welcome to come, too! My work will be exhibited for two weeks in the Arrowroot Factory building, home of the upcoming Masterworks Museum of Bermuda. Refreshments will be served. Please come!