Photo by Joan Anderson
Photo by Roseanne Burke
I broke my leg on my new figure skates when I was in the third grade and was unable to go out for recess. Instead, the teacher gave me some colored chalk and allowed me to draw on the blackboard. And so began my love of all things art. This love of painting has enriched my life. It has given me a community of artist friends, painters, collectors, and like-minded fellows. It has taken me to regions far and wide. It fills my life daily with work that I love.
I have degrees from Northeastern IL University and the CO Institute of Art. I taught Art in public and private schools in the US and Brazil. I've had great instructors e.g. Gerald Merfeld, Chen Chee NY, Pamela Caughey, Melinda Cootsona, Jerry McLaughlin, Nancy Hillis, Steve Aimone, and others. I am so grateful.
I worked in the field of graphic design in Denver following art school. Today my artistic endeavors are devoted to the Fine Arts. My paintings have gone through stages of different mediums and styles. The biggest occurred about 10 years ago when I made the transition from plein air traditional painting to non-objective work, sometimes referred to as abstract expressionism. There is nothing before me to prompt my image, only the tools on my table, the ideas in my head, the feelings in my heart, and the skills I have learned.
I am a signature member of the Western CO Watercolor Society and formerly, the Plein Air Painters of CO (PAAC), and the Rocky Mountain Collage Society.
Selected Awards/Shows
Rocky Mountain Collage Society, 3rd place, 2020, honorable mention, 2016
The Helen Watrous Award, 1st Place, Rocky Mountain Nat'l Watercolor Society, Golden, CO, 2009
Best of Show, The Western CO Nat'l Watercolor Society Plein Air Exhibit, Hotchkiss, CO
Artist Choice Award, PAAC 2005, 2009, Denver, CO
Best of Show, Quick Draw, and 2nd Place, CO Mountain Plein Air Festival, Salida, CO
Best of Show, Quick Draw, PAAC, Abend Gallery, Denver, CO 2013
My painting, "Labor of Love" was chosen to represent CO Mountain Winefest, 2009
"Artist in Residence" Spring of 2011, and exhibition at the Wstern CO Botanical Garden
Contemporary Painting 2015, 2017, 2019, The Art Center, Grand Junction, CO
"The Outsiders" exhibit, annually at the Art Center GJ, 1995- 2005
"Three Women Collaborative Exhibit," the Art Center, GJ 2020
"Women's Group Show," Omnia Gallery, GJ, 2018, 2019
The Avalon Theatre and City Hall, GJ
Former/Current Gallery representation: the Meerdink Gallery, Ouray, CO, Arts At Denver, Denver, CO, Blaire Carnahan Gallery, Santa Fe, NM, the Mill Atelier Gallery, Santa Fe, NM, the BluePig Gallery and the Craig Gallery, Palisade, CO
I am a participant in the Grand Valley Open Studio Tours