I have lived most of my life in Northern Indiana where I feel fortunate to have
experienced the peace and quiet of small town living. I was raised on a farm
where I spent many hours drawing as a child. Art has always been a continual
interest for me. As a young working mother, I joined a local art group where I
took my first oil painting classes and remember spending many hours painting in
my basement after tucking my two young sons safely into bed.
Many years later, I am now retired from my full-time job as a legal secretary,
and finally able to pursue the art that I love. Since I am just beginning my second
career as an artist, I ask you to follow along with my journey. My thoughts are
simply this... I have no formal art education, but I feel that God has truly
blessed me with a talent, and how foolish I would be to ignore His gift! Thus I
paint. For the pure joy of creating what hasn’t been created before.
I have recently discovered a love for pastels and find such pleasure in the pure,
brilliant pigment that I am able to incorporate into my pieces. Pastels and I will be
traveling this new journey together for a long time. The wonderful thing about art
is that you never stop learning and it is something that you can enjoy no matter
your age. So please, come along for the ride!!
Competitions and Awards
- 2012 Elkhart Art League Winter Show – Merit Award
- 2013 Northern Indiana Pastel Society, Members' Exhibit “Portals” – Merit Award
- 2013 DeFries Garden Juried Show – Honorable Mention
- 2013 Northern Indiana Pastel Society, Members' Exhibit – Judge’s Award
- 2013 35th Elkhart Juried Regional – Midwest Museum of American Art
- 2014 DeFries Garden Juried Show – 2nd Place Award
- 2014 Elkhart Art League Spring Show – Merit Award
- 2014 26th Annual Juried Heartland Artists Regional – 2nd Place Award
- 2019 Elkhart Art League Members Show - 1st Place Award
Workshops Attended
- August 2015 – 5-day workshop with Richard McKinley in Leland, MI