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Art has been part of my life from a very young age. Starting with coloring books, moving on to drawing Veronica’s outfits
(from the "Archie" comic books), to my first oil painting done entirely with a mat knife at the age of 13, which led to private
lessons in oils, and finally majoring in art in college. Unfortunately, as happens to many people, life got in the way of my art.
Between college and 2001, I mostly put my painting aside and only did crafts for gifts and with my children. I have always loved to
look at watercolor paintings because of the clarity and lightness of the color. When Shasta Community College offered a class in watercolor
painting, I decided to give it a try (with some trepidation). Well, I was hooked! Watching a picture materialize from the very
rough stages to the finished product creates a spectrum of emotions in me. The first is excitement when I discover the subject I
want to paint, to the dread of having to sketch it (not my forte), then the fear of putting the first brush stroke on the gleaming
white paper, followed by the frustration that I may not get it right, on to hope that it will turn out after all, and finally the
delight, pleasure and sense of accomplishment when the painting is completed to my satisfaction.
I am a product of the Norman Rockwell era and look to his work as my shining example of the kind of art I would like to do. My passions are portraits, animals, and still life. I find I am happiest when I have a painting in the works. For that reason I head to my studio for 2 to 4 hours every morning when time allows. This schedule also ensures that my work continues to improve. I was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area and have five brothers and sisters. Being part of a large family is very special and we are all very close today. My mother, of course, is the glue. After college I headed to San Francisco and lived there for three years. I met my husband, David, when he was in his second year at Hastings Law School. After we married, we knew we did not want to raise our children in a city environment so we set out to find a county seat at the right altitude that was not too hot and not too cold, where David could practice law. Weaverville fit the bill perfectly. I worked in school finance for 30 years taking 6 years off after our two beautiful boys were born. Now retired, I have enjoyed returning to my first love, PAINTING! Three of my portraits have won two first place awards and one 3rd place award in watercolor at the Highland Art Gallery Juried Shows and I enjoy showing my art in several locations around Weaverville, Redding, and Leaburg, Oregon. Art is an important ingredient in my life today and I hope, for years to come. |
