EDUCATION

JD 1990 University of Miami School of Law, Coral Gables, FL
BSW 1986 Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL

ART EDUCATION

2008 Painting Workshop Taos, NM
2006-2009 Santa Fe Community College, Santa Fe, NM
1991-2002 The Boca Raton Museum of Art School, Boca Raton, FL
1991 Life Drawing and Painting Workshop, San Miguel De Allende, Mexico

MUSEUM EXHIBITIONS

2009 Center For Contemporary Arts, 8th Annual Collect: Inside 8, Santa Fe, NM
2009 The San Diego Art Institute, The Museum of The Living Artist, 50th International Award Exhibition, Juror: Julia Marciari Alexander 
2008 Center for Contemporary Arts, 7th Annual Collect: Inside 8, Santa Fe, New Mexico
2002 Cornell Museum, Inspirations 2002, Delray Beach, FL
2000 The Boca Raton Museum of Art, Artist Guild Biennial Competition & Exhibition, Boca Raton, FL

SELECTED EXHIBITIONS

2010 Darnell Fine Art, Claire McArdle & Brenda Hope Zappitell, July 20th - August 10th,Santa  Fe, NM
2009 The Taos Gallery & The Gallery on The Green, International Group Juried Exhibition, Taos, NM 
2009 The San Diego Art Institute, The Museum of the Living Artist,
50th International Award Exhibition, San Diego, CA, Juror: Julia Marciari Alexander 
2002 Cornell Museum, Inspirations 2002, Delray Beach, FL
2002 The Boca Raton Museum of Art, 16th Annual Art Festival, Boca Raton, FL         
2001 The Boca Raton Museum of Art, 15th Annual Art Festival, Boca Raton, FL
2000 The Boca Raton Museum of Art, Artist Guild Biennial Competition & Exhibition, Boca Raton, FL
1999 The Boca Raton Museum of Art, Artist Guild Gallery Exhibition (Images in March), Boca Raton, FL
1999 The Boca Raton Museum of Art, Artist Guild Gallery Exhibition (Images in Feb), Boca Raton, FL

AWARDS & PUBLICATION

2010 International Contemporary Masters, Vol. III
2009 People's Choice Award, The Taos Gallery International Group Juried Exhibition, Taos, NM  


                                                                ARTIST STATEMENT

 My paintings emerge from the emotion I feel in the moment my brush touches a blank surface. I am a very physical and spontaneous painter. Moving back and forth with decisive brush strokes and dynamic gestures, I work rapidly to capture that ephemeral feeling in tangible form.

I begin without expectations and work on a subconscious level that disregards logic. Guided by a primal inner voice, I surrender control to the paint, the brush and a visceral process of creative discovery. I apply many layers to my paintings, leaving evidence of early marks as a sense of my progression.

I observe everything in my life in great detail and am heavily influenced by nature, in particular the sky. My mark-making, though serendipitous, reflects these influences. I want the viewer to believe that my vision expands beyond the work itself to a universe I have created. 

Painting in the genre of Abstract Expressionism, I feel a strong affinity for artists such as Joan Mitchell and Willem De Kooning, whose work also emphasizes action and emotion over ideas. I sign my paintings “Hope,” not only because this is my middle name, but because this emotion truly inspires me.