THE GALLERY is a virtual garden of art located near the center of the 16th-century village that is my home, an artist's hideaway often discovered by accident as visitors explore Ajijic's cobblestone streets.  

Tourists, neighbors and friends drop in to linger and chat amidst colorful paintings and flowers, as we exchange thoughts about art, travel and life. And every now and then, a special connection is made and a painting finds its forever home. 

I moved to Ajijic in 2010, and the beauty of life here had a profound influence on my art. I felt compelled to express the spirit of each subject as I imagined it to be, rather than try to capture the reality of what I saw.  

In the sanctuary of my studio, I don't have to think about what or how to paint; inspiration just comes. I wake up to the sound of wind chimes and birds songs, and I can't wait to get to work. A golden bird, butterflies and blossoms, peacocks and pangolins, mermaids in exotic landscapes. I paint in the style of Magical Realism, which seems an ironic homage to how I've lived my life.

My art is love; I paint with intention - and the clear understanding that some day an unknown person will walk through my gallery door, feel an inexplicable connection with a particular painting, and claim it as their own.   

I have witnessed how art that one loves, whether original or print, becomes a treasure that is passed down from parent to child, an heirloom that carries with it the memory of its origins and the story of its journey through time.  

Art, like love, is forever.