I have always loved art. I grew up in Missouri in a house where the kids colored and mom and dad bought artwork to hang on the walls. Art was around and encouraged.
My wonderful High School art teacher, Ms. McCord, taught me drawing and painting for two years and suggested art as my college major. I followed her recommendation and graduated from BYU in 2002 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in painting. The next six years I detoured from art and worked other jobs while my husband finished grad school and began his career. In 2008 I returned to art and we built a studio behind our house. I’ve enjoyed being a full-time artist ever since.
My husband is a builder and woodworker. He custom builds all of my art panels. Each of my originals are crafted pieces of art from front to back, start to finish. I love the rigid feel of painting on panel verses the soft give of canvas. I work from photographs I take, usually collaging multiple photos together. In the spring when the tulips are blooming I am never home; I am out collecting images for future paintings.
My yellow lab, Buttercup, keeps me company during the day while I work. She has been the subject of many paintings and is always there to play when I need a break from painting. My studio is usually tidy, my house is usually not. I love crossword puzzles, summertime, a good movie or book, and fishing Yellowstone with my husband.
Why do I paint and what inspires me? I paint because I absolutely love the swish of the brush and mark of the paint. When I work, my mind is clear. I see simply shape and color. It is a peaceful and energetic process simultaneously. I love the accomplishment when a painting is finished, and I want to share my talent with other people. I am inspired by light and color. Most objects can be made more beautiful by the way they are lit. I also like to see paintings with some texture; I want to see brush strokes or palette knife marks and I want to see oil paint that isn’t overworked, but is allowed to be itself. I am inspired to paint when I see this in other artists’ works. Some of my favorite artworks are J.M.W. Turner’s seascapes and a portrait by John Singer Sargent titled Lady Agnew of Lochnaw. I take pictures in museums whenever possible and fill photo albums with paintings I’ve experienced. I visit galleries and follow contemporary artists via the web. There is inspiration in all of these places. Art simply is inspiration.
Selected Shows, Awards & Publications
2012
Lunch & Learn guest artist, Deseret Book, Salt Lake City, Utah
Ladies’ Night guest artist, Deseret Book, Orem, Utah
2011
14th Annual Zions Bank Artist Reception, Salt Lake City, Utah
Logan Fine Art Juried Salon, Logan, Utah
87th Annual Spring Salon, Springville Museum of Art, Springville, Utah
Best of Show, American Fork Steel Days Art Show, American Fork, Utah
1st Place, American Fork Steel Days Art Show, American Fork, Utah
Featured Artist, Zions Bank Utah Valley Spring Art Show, Provo, Utah
American Art Collector, March issue
