"I don’t plan my paintings or paint from a photo; my paintings evolve as I work on them, emerging as abstract scenes and imaginary landscapes." — Merith Cosden

Although I have always had a passion for creating visual art, it was not until I retired as a professor of psychology at UCSB that I became able to focus on that part of my life. I work primarily on stretched canvas, layering fluid acrylic paint, and collage materials to create abstract paintings that evoke natural themes, including floral scenes, desert landscapes, and seascapes. My work is inspired by the colors and feelings of the places where I have lived in New Mexico, Colorado, and California. I am on the Board of the Goleta Valley Art Association, a member of the Abstract Art Collective, South Coast Artists Painting for the Environment, and an artist trading card group. My paintings have been juried into the Carpinteria Arts Center, the Santa Barbara Tennis Club, the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum, Santa Barbara City Hall, the Music Academy of the West, Voice Gallery, Goleta Valley Library, Faulkner Gallery, and in other local businesses and online exhibits.