A Little About Me
On location at Abrams Falls, Cades Cove in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park working on a plein air painting.
My primary focus for the past 25+ yearts has been custom pastel pet portraits. These are hand-drawn in charcoal on hard archival quality boards, to which I then apply layers of pastels for color. I usually work from photographs for the pastel pet portraits as many of my commissions are gifts and/or are of pets that have already passed on. I love anything that makes a mark, and when I am not painting in pets in pastel, I might be painting a landscape, dabbling in acrylic, oil, watercolor or out with my camera photographing nature. Be sure to visit my shop where you will find a variety of note and greeting cards that I print of my paintings and photography plus prints of some of my artwork and other items!
Working out of my studio near Columbia, Tennessee, I am quite at home with the beautiful lush countryside of the Tennessee hills. My love of art, animals, and nature were apparent at a very early age, and I could frequently be found with a pencil or other drawing tool in hand. A native of Michigan, as a youth I was active in Girl Scouts and 4-H where I showed Arabian horses.
At Michigan State University in Lansing, MI, I received my license in Veterinary Technology, and an Associate of Natural Sciences degree at Mott Community College in Flint, MI. My art training consists of basic high school art classes, plus two basic drawing classes, and a two dimensional design and sculpture class at the community college. Aside from these classes, I am primarily a self taught artist.
A change of work venue brought my husband and me to Tennessee, where I joined the Tennessee Art League (TAL) in Nashville, TN and began my career as an artist. I served as Vice-President, Membership Chair, and Historian at TAL, the oldest artist co-op and gallery in Nashville.
I have had numerous commissions for custom pastel pet portraits, murals, landscapes and pastel people portraits, as well as numerous other commissioned pieces in various mediums.
I must give all credit and glory to my God for blessing me with these talents. There is truly no other possibility for it, and when I paint I am totally in His presence. It is such a wonderful feeling, and I wish everyone could experience it! To learn more about Jesus, salvation, and walking in His presence, you can visit The First Family Baptist Church, which has recorded sermons and other information available, or you may simply call 1-800-NEED-HIM. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions, I would love to hear from you!
Working out of my studio near Columbia, Tennessee, I am quite at home with the beautiful lush countryside of the Tennessee hills. My love of art, animals, and nature were apparent at a very early age, and I could frequently be found with a pencil or other drawing tool in hand. A native of Michigan, as a youth I was active in Girl Scouts and 4-H where I showed Arabian horses.
At Michigan State University in Lansing, MI, I received my license in Veterinary Technology, and an Associate of Natural Sciences degree at Mott Community College in Flint, MI. My art training consists of basic high school art classes, plus two basic drawing classes, and a two dimensional design and sculpture class at the community college. Aside from these classes, I am primarily a self taught artist.
A change of work venue brought my husband and me to Tennessee, where I joined the Tennessee Art League (TAL) in Nashville, TN and began my career as an artist. I served as Vice-President, Membership Chair, and Historian at TAL, the oldest artist co-op and gallery in Nashville.
I have had numerous commissions for custom pastel pet portraits, murals, landscapes and pastel people portraits, as well as numerous other commissioned pieces in various mediums.
I must give all credit and glory to my God for blessing me with these talents. There is truly no other possibility for it, and when I paint I am totally in His presence. It is such a wonderful feeling, and I wish everyone could experience it! To learn more about Jesus, salvation, and walking in His presence, you can visit The First Family Baptist Church, which has recorded sermons and other information available, or you may simply call 1-800-NEED-HIM. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions, I would love to hear from you!