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About Me I'm an architectural historian with over 30 years of experience researching and writing about historic buildings. Most of the buildings I've studied are in New Jersey, but I'm also familiar with those in neighboring Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, and New York.
I'm also a folk artist, an avocation that I set aside while raising my two children and having a full-time career working with historic buildings. Now that the kids are grown and on their own, I have more free time and have returned to my interest in American folk art. |
My Folk Art Training |
I took folk art lessons from my mother, Ruth Berkey, who was an Early American Decorator and a long-time member of the Historical Society of Early American Decoration. From her, I learned false-graining, primitive painting, tole, and theorem painting (stenciling on white cotton velvet or paper). I also took lessons in drawing and oil painting from several other instructors and focused on realistic paintings inspired by the American greats of John Singleton Copley and the Peale family. In my historic townscapes, I combine my two passions of folk art and architectural history.
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Where I Live
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My husband Scott, two cats (Pokey and Tiger), and I live in the ca. 1790 Thomas (Jr.) and Zilpah Ludlam House in Cape May County. It's a simple farmhouse that took us 2 1/2 years to restore. We have it filled with folk art and primitive style furniture, both antique and reproductions, the latter made by my husband. In 2012, we built an addition to the rear of the house and I have a small studio in one of the addition's second story bedrooms. It is inspiring to paint heritage arts in a historic building!
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