About the Artist

  I love children!  They put everything they have into everything they do.  Their movements and expressions tell the most compelling stories.  I try to reveal that spirit in my paintings.   Also enjoying the challenge of painting textures of all kinds, blue jeans, reflective surfaces or the fly away hair of a three year old.   I enjoy the challenges of composition, direct and indirect lighting, and pay special attention to that inner glow of light that I see in children. 

    Observing people in everyday activity, I plan my compositions from my observations, photos, sketches and live studies.  I wish to capture each beautiful slice of life and bring it to the appreciation of those who are seeking joy in the simple moments.

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   My mother tells the story of a drawing on a paper plate that I did at four years of age. It was a "remarkably accurate" depiction of people on the beach with umbrellas.  She then encouraged and gave me every affordable opportunity to develop my “talent.”  This was fine with me, since I believe I had decided I was an artist from the day I was born.

   In my early teens I joined other young artists studying in Institute and Art League workshops with mentors Sadako Mano, G. Murrillo and then college at Brigham Young University with Scott Christensen, Jorgensen, Whittaker and many others.

   I am very grateful for these early learning experiences, mentors, and for my dear parents who taught me that I could accomplish anything I was willing to work at.

   I married my wonderful and supportive husband at twenty-one and began my family, which grew to nine children.  Coming to understand my own tendency to focus all I have into my art, I knew I needed to step out of the art world temporarily and concentrate my efforts on raising my family.  This was a very difficult decision, but one many mothers have made.  I found ways during the next twenty years to expand my art experience, doing commissioned portraits, restoring houses and adding features such as sculpted tile, mosaics, murals, hand carved woodwork, always learning by doing and expanding my creative experience and education.

   In 2005, just as I was lightly stepping back into the competitive art world, painting and teaching, I was stricken with a rare disease, which stole my balance, communication between brain, hands and feet, while enveloping me in a constant nauseating spin.  With little hope that I could ever again do the art I loved, I chose to put it out of my mind.  I would not look at something and think how I would paint it, not plan how I would mix that color, not take note of a beautiful design, not think like an artist.  I fell into a deep depression.  I began to write - stories I had told my children, songs we had made up together, even romances.  I had graduated with top levels in National English Testing and had always enjoyed writing, but I was going to be an Artist.   After three years of numerous tests I was correctly diagnosed.  It took another two years of therapy to push through/re-route around the small damaged area in my lower brain and ear nerve.

  My final stage of healing came when I moved to Idaho and enrolled at Brigham Young University Idaho.  In my first class, when I was unable to keep the jerky motion of my hand steady to draw a complete, one motion oval, my teacher Brian Call, guided my hand with his and made the motion over and over.  I felt the cool rush I had felt before, when my brain pushed through or re-routed.  The more I practiced the more steady and controlled my movements became.

   I am so grateful for all who stood by me in this journey and wish to credit my amazing teachers and mentors who will forever be my dearest friends, Albin Veselka, Leon Parson, Sally Ellis, Dan Burr, Brian Call, Matt Geddes, Gerald Griffin, Vince Bodily and all of the BYUI Art Department Staff.   I am now completely recovered.  I enjoy making the millions of decisions, brush strokes, and assessments that must be made in the process of a painting, every day.  I appreciate the Recognition and Awards I have received in galleries and competitions, and the encouragement and loyalty of art enthusiasts and collectors.

     Some of the recent recognitions I have received are:

          BYUI Student Show, 1 Honorable Mention, 1 Award of Merit 2013

          BYUI Student Show, 1 Honorable Mention, 2 Awards of Merit 2014

          Eliza R. Snow Society - Exemplary Student of the College of Performing and Visual Arts 2015, 2016

          36th Annual Idaho Watercolor Society Juried Membership Exhibition - Selection - 2015

          Summerfest 2015 - Art Grows Rexburg - Art Competition - Professional Class - 2nd Place  - 2015

          Western Federation of Watercolor Societies -WFWS 41 Exhibition - Arvada Center for the Arts, Arvada, CO- Leon Hake Award 2016

          Western Federation of Watercolor Societies -WFWS 42 Exhibition - Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art, Eugene, OR- Selection 2017

          Idaho Watercolor Society - Signature Status 2017

          Summerfest 2018 - Art Grows Rexburg -  Art Competition - Professional Class - 3rd Place 

          Western Federation of Watercolor Societies - WFWS 43 Exhibition - SAWG Gallery, Tucson, Arizona - Award of Distinction - 2018

          Western Federation of Watercolor Societies - WFWS 44 Exhibition - San Diego Watercolor Society Gallery, CA -  Honorable         

          Mention Award and Peoples' Choice Award- 2019

          Western Federation of Watercolor Societies - WFWS 45 Exhibition - Boise, Idaho -  Peoples' Choice Award 2020

          Summerfest 2022 - Art Grows Rexburg - Professional Class

          LDS 12th International Art Competition - 1st Selection - 2022

          LDS 13th International Art Competition - Now on Exhibit at the LDS Church History and Art Museum through Jan 6, 2026