Replete with references to the ancient frescoes and mosaics of the Etruscans, Romans, and Byzantines, my paintings capture a timeless moment through a contemporary eye. Since 1998, I have concentrated on a series of figurative works inspired by Indian and Persian miniatures, the vanishing art of hand-painted signage, and a variety of sacred and folk arts. I use color and pattern to evoke emotion and tell stories of daily life where the viewer is drawn into an intimate world. My work is clearly inspired by the traditional, but the impact of personal history is evident in the quiet presentation of issues of gender and race. This is a portrait of my husband, the Jamaican-born sculptor Arthur Simms. We had been looking for a live/work space to buy for many years when I painted this in 2011. One month later Arthur found us a wonderful home.