Biography

Education:

1976 - University of Minnesota, Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN

Bachelor of Arts Political Science/American Government

2001 - University of Arkansas Little Rock, Little Rock, AR

Bachelor of Arts Studio Art Graphic Design/Illustration/Photography

2009 to Present ­– Fine artist Oils and Pastels

1996 to 2011 – Freelance graphic designer

Specialty designs for music compact discs working with BR Productions in New York City and Resmiranda Records in Columbine, CO. Newsletter designs and promotional designs for non-profits and local civic organizations.

Personal commentary and artist statement
       Drawing and painting are a passion in my life. As a little girl I would beg to be given the white butcher paper wrappings from my mother on which I would draw and color for hours. My first drawing lesson was in 1st grade in a rural Midwest schoolroom. Mrs. Olsen drew an elephant on the chalkboard using letters of the alphabet! I was thrilled to learn how to take those lines to create an image! As a teenager my frequent request for Christmas was a set of acrylic paints from the Sears and Roebuck Catalog (which I did finally receive when I was sixteen). I was fortunate enough to be able to attend the University of Arkansas in the late 90's and achieved my dream of an academic art degree. Working in the graphic design and photography field has been rewarding, but returning to the studio to become a full-time painter is a dream fulfilled.

I have grown to love painting out of doors, so the majority of my small landscapes are painted on site. My rural background draws me to scenes of the land and spaces around me. On quiet days in my studio I search through my still life shelves and set up something that pleases my eye or work from one of my landscape references. 

This last year has been extremely rewarding with multiple acceptances into national juried exhibitions and being selected for a solo exhibition/artist in residence at P. Allen Smith’s Moss Mountain Farm; Southwest Artists National Small Works Show, Missouri Valley Impressionist Society 6^th National Juried Exhibition, The Randy Higbee Gallery 8^th Annual 6 x 6 National Show, The National Oil and Acrylic Painters Holiday Small Works Exhibition, The Rice Gallery of Fine Art 3^rd National Juried Plein Air Exhibition and the “Best of Show” award in the Memphis Germantown Art League 41^st Annual Juried Star Exhibition.

Continuing education is a very important aspect of my development as a painter and instruction on a national level has been a priority since returning to fine art, bringing me to Studio Incamminati in Philadelphia to study with Darren Kingsley and Stephen Early. My most recent studies have been with Jeff Legg – Oil painter of America Master, Roger Dale Brown – Oil Painter of America Master, Elizabeth Robbins and Kathy Anderson. I completed a several workshops at the Scottsdale Artist School with David Leffel, Sherrie McGraw and Jackie Kamin of the Bright Light Artist Guild. Other workshops have included studying with Timothy Tyler Art Renewal Center certified atelier, Juliette Aristedes also an Art Renewal Center atelier and Rose Franzten.

Exploring the out of doors and revisiting favorite paintings sites at different times of the year and day brings new visual experiences at each visit and I am looking forward continuing my artistic journey.

 

Professional Awards and Recognitions

2017 - National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society  National Small Works Juried Exhibition

November/December - Cathy Kline Gallery, Parkville, MO

2017 - P. Allen Smith Solo Exhibition - Moss Mountain Gallery

2017 - Southwest Artist National Smallworks Juried Exhibition - Mena Art Gallery

2017 - Missouri Valley Impressionist Society 6th National Exhibition Juried - Rice Gallery

2017 - Memphis/Germantown Art League 40th Annual Members Juried Exhibition

2107 - Artworks - Arkansas Repertory Theatre

2016 Exhibitions and Recognitions

2016 - Plein Air Magazine 6th Annual Juried Salon August-September - Juror Kathy Anderson

2016 - Fourth of July and Other Things - Solo Exhibition 

2016 - Arkansas League of Artists Annual Juried Competition - Juror Joe Lampo

2016 - Missouri Valley Impressionist Society 5th National Exhibtion - Albrecht Kemper Museum St. Joseph, MO Juror Kathy Lio 

2016 - Arkansas League of Artist Spring Show - Cox Center Gallery

2015 Exhibitions and Recognitions

2015 - Oct/Nov 5th Plein Air Salon Juried- Plein Air Magazine

2015 - 21st ANA Regional Exhibition Juried- Fayetteville Underground Gallery, Fayetteville, AR Juried

2015 - Memphis Germantown Art League National Exhibition Juried - WKNO Gallery 1091, Cordova, TN Juror Paul Jackson, AWS

2015 - 1st Place June Competitive Arkansas League of Artists - Cantrell Gallery, Little Rock, AR

2015 - Arkansas League of Artists Spring Show - Argenta Gallery, North Little Rock

2015 - Missouri Valley Impressionist Society 4th National Exhibition - St. Louis, MO

2015 - Quapaw Quarter Figure Drawing Group - Rivermarket Artspace, Little Rock, AR

2014 - Arkansas League of Artist Members Show, 2nd place Landscape - Juror Kevin Kresse
2014 - Missouri Valley Impressionist Society Kempner Museum
2014 - River Market Art Space Featured Artist January - March Solo Exhibition

2013 - Arkansas League of Artist Winner Show - Greg Thompson, Thompson Fine Art

2013 – Arkansas League of Artist 4^th Annual Juried Show, 1^st Place award Still life – Juror Dr. John Kellar Harding University

2013 – Arkansas League of Artist 1^st Signature Members Show – Juror Katherine Strausse Hendrix University

2012 – Arkansas League of Artist Winner’s show – Juror Endia Bumgardner Arkansas Tech University

2011 – Arkansas League of Artist 2^nd Annual Juried Show – Juror Stephen Cefalo -Signature Member Status

2011 – Arkansas Art Center Museum School Juried Ceramic and Sculpture Exhibition

2011 – Arkansas Pastel Society 4^th National Exhibition – Juror Doug Dawson

2010 – Pastel Society of the Southwest 29^th National Juried Show finalist – Juror Kathleen Cook

2010 – Arkansas League of Artists 1st Annual Juried Show – Juror Townsend Wolfe

2nd place award floral/still life

2010 – Arkansas Pastel Society 1st Annual Juried Show finalist– Juror David Mudrinich,

Professor of Art, Arkansas Tech University

2009 – Arkansas Pastel Society National Juried Show finalist – Juror Doug Dawson

Organizations and Boards
Oil Painters of America

American Women Artists

Portrait Society of America

American Impressionist Society

Fine Arts Club Board Arkansas Arts Center - Lifetime member

Arkansas League of Artists – Signature Member

Arkansas Pastel Society

Workshops – Roger Dale Brown, Sherrie McGraw, Jackie Kamin, Stephen Early, Darren Kingsley, Juliette Aristedes, Guido Frick, Tim Tyler, Doug Gorrell, Marc Whitney, Gary Simmons, Doug Dawson, and Susan Ogilvie.

Academic Achievements

Graduated magna cum laude 2001, Aristotle Scholarship Award , UALR Student Competitive Award 2001● Best of College Photography Annual National Competitive Finalist 2000, Friends of the Arts Scholarship Award 2000, UALR Student Competitive Award 2000, UALR Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences 2000 Graphic Design Award, UALR Student Competitive Award 1999, UALR Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, 1999 Graphic Design Award, UALR Student Competitive Finalist 1998