About
I am a native West Virginian and grew up in Harrison County. I graduated from West Virginia Wesleyan College in Buckhannon, West Virginia where my husband and I still live and where we raised three children amid numerous cats and dogs. I did portraits in pastel and oil in college. In 2017 I took a workshop from artist Lisa Ober that rekindled my passion for portraits and pastel. For the first time I discovered the joy of combining my love for animals with my love of painting. Each portrait becomes a puzzle to be worked. The challenge of creating the soft feel of a silky ear and contrasting that with the texture of a wet nose and luminous eyes is something I truly enjoy. More than just capturing a likeness, I strive to coax the personality of the animal to shine through. I continue to learn something new with each project. My camera is always close by and my eyes are drawn to the play of light. My favorite portraits are ones where light defines the textures of the coat and the structure of the head. A sense of color is a strongpoint in pastels. The beautiful pure pigment of pastel lends itself to creating believable images.
My background is in teaching, primarily on the high school level. West Virginia Wesleyan College encouraged me to design my masters curriculum. I was privileged to study at many other incredible institutions, including: Haystack Mountain School (Deer Isle, Maine), Pennland School (Boone, North Carolina), Ohio University (Athens Ohio), Marshall University (Huntington, WV), Cedar Lakes (Ripley , WV), and West Virginia University. Being selected as an instructor for West Virginia’s Governors School was a highlight in my teaching career. Since 2017 I have taken workshops with among the best in the craft, including Lisa Ober (St. Louis, MO), Christine Swann (Pittsburgh, PA), Rita Kirkman (Texas), and Jacob Aguiar (Maine). Bill Suys OPSA (Wisconsin) workshop, "Breathing Life into Animals" and historical painter, John Buxton, North Carolina, "Composition Workshop". All of these artists are signature members of the PSA (Pastel Society of America) and the IAPS - MC (International Association of Pastel Societies - Masters Circle).
Internationally and nationally acclaimed portrait artist, Christine Swann, has had a tremendous influence on my work. I met Christine at one of her workshops and she has been mentoring me for several years. Her portraits create the most believable skin I've ever seen in a painting. She is a Signature Member of the Pastel Society of America and a Masters Circle Member of IAPS. In her portraits Christine creates the most believable skin I have ever seen in a painting.
I started accepting commissions for paintings in May of 2018. In my first year I received an Honorable Mention, Merit Award, First Place and (most appreciated) two People’s Choice Awards in exhibits. In 2022, I received an Honorable Mention from Chicago artist James Swanson at the Gala Exhibition hosted by the Randolph County Arts Center. It was a special honor for me because James Swanson is a member of the NOAPS - National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society, OPA- Oil Painters of America and AIS - American Impressionist Society. He is well-known for his water dog series of paintings. I feel very fortunate to have had the support of my family, friends and the instructors mentioned. It’s been a privilege to meet and work with so many wonderful people as they’ve shared their stories and photographs.
Education, Training, and Workshops
- West Virginia Wesleyan College, Bachelors in Education (Buckhannon, WV)
- West Virginia University, Masters in Education (Morgantown, WV)
- Haystack Mountain School (Deer Island, ME)
- Pennland School (Boone, NC)
- Ohio University (Athens, OH)
- Marshall University (Huntington, WV)
- Cedar Lakes (Ripley, WV)
- Workshop with Master artist, William B. (Bill) Suys OPA
- Workshop with Master artist, John Buxton
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