When I walk down a wooded trail and respond to the tree whose leaves are bathed in the morning glow, or the sun striking a mountain in snow, those are the moments I want to remember and want to paint. When I apply my brush to the canvas, I know that I am responding to the creation before me, and my worrisome and busy life drops away, leaving me at peace. I am amazed by color, and when I put all of the techniques aside for a moment, letting myself experience what is in my heart, that is when I have the most joy.
Bio
I am an artist who lives and works in the Pacific Northwest. Apart from my career choice, I have been drawing and painting in various mediums since 1986, including oil, watercolor, acrylic and pastel. I have enjoyed exploring and developing my artistic skills by attending classes at Gage Academy of Art in Seattle and through various workshops. The object of my focus is always the natural world, whether in my studio paintings or plein air landscapes. I have had a lifelong interest in nature and can be found walking and hiking most any month of the year, rain or shine. I am a member of Plein Air Washington and Salish Sea Plein Air Artists of LaConner.
Professional Education 1975 Pacific Union College, California - Assoc. Degree Nursing 1999 University of Washington, Seattle, WA - Bachelors Degree Nursing
Art Education 1986 - Current: Various classes and workshops by artists including Mitch Baird of Arizona, Eric Jacobsen of Prineville, OR, Barry McCuan of Santa Fe, New Mexico, Jim Lamb of Seattle, WA, Ned Mueller of Renton,Wa.,Timothy Horn of California and Scott Gellatly of Portland. and Mitch Baird of Arizona. 2007 - 2014 Gage Academy of Art, Seattle, WA.
Juried Exhibitions 2008 Plein - Air Mirror Pond Gallery, Bend Oregon 2012 Abstract Art - Eastside Fine Arts Association, Bellevue, WA 2013 Gallery North Edmonds 2015 Skagit Artists Together 2015 Plein Air Washington Association at American Art Co., Tacoma, WA 2016 Plein Air Washington Association at Scott Milo Gallery, Anacortes, WA 2017 Gallery North, Edmonds, WA
Solo / Featured Exhibitions 2007 Starbucks coffee house, Seattle, WA 2007 North Hill Bakery, Seattle, WA 2008 Rexville Grange, Mt. Vernon, WA 2012 The Brick Gallery, Edison, WA 2014 Skagit Valley Hospital, Mount Vernon, WA 2016 Open Studio at KF Ritz Fine Art.
Group Exhibitions 2010 Landscapes - Eastside Association of Fine Arts, Bellevue, WA 2012 Eastside Fine Arts Association, Bellevue, WA 2013 Seaside Gallery with Plein Air Washington Association, Anacortes, WA 2013 The Rexville Grocery Gallery, Fir Island, WA 2014 Skagit Artists Together Art's Alive,- 2nd place award 2014 Mount Vernon Art Walk, WA 2015 Art Bash, Skagit Valley, WA 2015 Depot Arts, Anacortes, WA 2015 American Art Co., Tacoma, WA 2016 Plein Air Washington Association at the Scott Milo Gallery, Anacortes, WA 2016 Skagit Artists Together Studio Tour 2017 Skagit Artists Together Art's Alive - 2nd place award 2017 River Gallery, Mt. Vernon, WA 2018 LaConner Popup Gallery, LaConner, WA