The inspiration for my Swimmers series is the challenge and beauty I find in painting graceful figures in sparkling water. My three beautiful sisters have been the models for many paintings in this series. As one of four sisters and as a mother of a daughter, I have spent many summer hours in my youth and adult life floating in lakes and pools with female companionship. I always watched the brilliant light dance on the water and wished I could capture the feeling of camaraderie, the beauty of light and color, and the feeling of youthful, happy days. Now that I am painting this series, it is as if I am capturing those things in a small way and reliving memories while doing so.