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Vision and Purpose
To illuminate the spirit through my art and attitude
I live in the Sierras between Sacramento and Tahoe with my husband, Chuck and our golden retriever, Rocky on 5 beautiful "mountain top" acres. I have been inspired to draw, study and paint all of my life with the never ending focus on the play of light on living creatures, whether they be trees, rocks, or breathing beings. (Yes, I live in California and am kind of a hippy, jock, tree hugger)
I was asked once why I paint by a well known plein air painter. I told him quickly, "It's me, it's what I do" Well, later that same day as I headed out to paint, I realized that when I paint I get to become very intimate with my subject. I see it/them for what they really are. Light. Color, Radiance. I'm brought to tears every time. That's why I paint. To share that. To show that. To live that. Wow. Here I go again...tearing up.
Style & Method: I choose to live as an oil painter. I have always used oils and find they lend themselves to the luminosity and depth I NEED to show in my work. Living creatures are so full of bounced light, it is a never ending challenge to put that in my paintings. My style is basically realistic though I love a juicy plein air now and then. My quest is to show my subjects in a way that causes to viewer to stop and take notice. To appreciate the power, gentleness, whatever that is unique to that animal or person or location. I've been told that my work has a certain radiance that transcends the canvas. Good. That's the point.
Education: For the first 25 years of my adult life I was an active, fun, busy mom of two real sport active kids. Once grown and gone from our home I started on my journey through many classes and educational forums to develop myself as a professional artist.Two sessions of the Portrait Society of America's yearly workshop back east Various Jr. College Classes
School of Light & Color in Fair Oaks CA - where I learned to see the radiance and color in all things
Academy of Art, San Francisco CA - where I focused on illustration and anatomy. I love anatomy. I learned an appreciation and dedication to detail and perfection in my work. By that I mean to be clean, immaculate etc with line and brush work.
Workshops - from wildlife art workshops in Montana to plein air in the mountains of Colorado with the top Artists in their fields I paid close attention and gleaned all I could. Wonderful experiences each and every one.
Memberships & Associations
Tahoe Art League Artist's for Conservation,
Shows,Awards, Publications:
2008
NatureWorks, Tulsa People's
choice
2008 Wildscapes Magazine June 08, article and cover
2010 The Wildscape Magazine's International Award , Special Commendation for Devotion
2010 Artist's for Conservation Medal of Excellence
2010 Artist's for Conservation's Conservation Award for Devotion
2010 Special Commendation in the Wildscape Editor's Selection for Artists forConservation Exhibition 2010
2011 March issue Wildscape Magazine of London, Article on "Painting the Soul and Spirit"
2011 Artists for Conservation (Nature Artists dot com) annual live show with my elephant piece and Lynx paintings called "Smoochin Elly's" and "Lynx and Nuthatch"
2011 Southwest Art Magazine's Artistic Excellence Competition has awarded "Devotion" (the elephant and keeper painting) "Runner Up"
2011 Wildscape Magazine's Artist of the Year competition awarded "Lynx and Nuthatch" Highly Commended
To illuminate the spirit through my art and attitude
I live in the Sierras between Sacramento and Tahoe with my husband, Chuck and our golden retriever, Rocky on 5 beautiful "mountain top" acres. I have been inspired to draw, study and paint all of my life with the never ending focus on the play of light on living creatures, whether they be trees, rocks, or breathing beings. (Yes, I live in California and am kind of a hippy, jock, tree hugger)
I was asked once why I paint by a well known plein air painter. I told him quickly, "It's me, it's what I do" Well, later that same day as I headed out to paint, I realized that when I paint I get to become very intimate with my subject. I see it/them for what they really are. Light. Color, Radiance. I'm brought to tears every time. That's why I paint. To share that. To show that. To live that. Wow. Here I go again...tearing up.
Style & Method: I choose to live as an oil painter. I have always used oils and find they lend themselves to the luminosity and depth I NEED to show in my work. Living creatures are so full of bounced light, it is a never ending challenge to put that in my paintings. My style is basically realistic though I love a juicy plein air now and then. My quest is to show my subjects in a way that causes to viewer to stop and take notice. To appreciate the power, gentleness, whatever that is unique to that animal or person or location. I've been told that my work has a certain radiance that transcends the canvas. Good. That's the point.
Education: For the first 25 years of my adult life I was an active, fun, busy mom of two real sport active kids. Once grown and gone from our home I started on my journey through many classes and educational forums to develop myself as a professional artist.
Memberships & Associations
Shows,Awards, Publications: