About Artist

I have always loved art. Having grown up in a rural area of West Texas, I attended schools that simply did not offer art classes, but I spent hours drawing. I wanted to major in art in college, but fear and practicality led me to choose English and Spanish as majors...subjects about which I felt I knew something. I managed to audit some drawing classes in graduate school. Upon moving to Memphis some 30 years ago, I took a watercolor class and fell in love with the medium. However, like many people, without the discipline of being in class other activities took precedence. Some years later, I began taking University of Memphis Continuing Education watercolor courses and did so for several years. Again, work became all consuming and I didn't touch a brush for 10 years. I always told myself that I would go back to painting when I retired. In 2002, after a 26 year career as a Managing Director in Human Resources at FedEx, I took early retirement. I was fortunate to begin taking classes with Fred Rawlinson, who formerly taught at Memphis College of Art. His knowledge, honest critique, and constant support has been invaluable.

I have come to realize that I am drawn to high value contrast, shape and color. I am intrigued by the impact of light and shadow. I just love to paint, whatever the subject matter. I continue to be fascinated with the watercolor medium and have begun experimenting with acrylic, tempera and guache resist. I'm learning and having fun...that's what keeps me painting.

Organizational Affiliations:
Memphis/Germantown Art League (MGAL), Exhibition Chair and Platinum Star Artist
Tennessee Watercolor Society
Southern Watercolor Society
American Watercolor Society
Memphis Brooks Museum of Art, Education Committee

Acceptance in Recent Juried Exhibitions:
Kentucky Watercolor Society Aqueous USA 2008
Tennessee Watercolor Society Statewide Exhibition 2008
MGAL National Exhibition 2008 - Judge's Special Recognition Award
MGAL Star Artist Exhibition 2008 - Third Place
Kentucky Watercolor Society Aqueous USA 2007 - First Place and Purchase Award
Rhode Island National Watermedia Competition 2007 - Honorable Mention
Missouri Watercolor Society National Exhibition 2007
California Watercolor Society International Exhibition 2007
Pike's Peak Watercolor Society International Watermedia Exhibition 2007
Southern Watercolor Society Annual Exhibition 2007
MGAL Star Artist Exhibition 2007 - Second Place
Watercolor Arts Society of Houston International Exhibition 2006
MGAL Spring Exhibition 2006 - Best of Show
San Diego Watercolor Society International Exhibition 2006
Tennessee Watercolor Society Statewide Exhibition 2006 - Beach Oil Company Award
Montana Watercolor Society National Watermedia Exhibition 2006
North East Watercolor Society International Exhibition 2006