Artist Statement
Medium: Watercolor Painting
My Southern California roots inspire the bold saturated color of my watercolor paintings. While I seek to evoke my feelings of “nouns” (persons, places, and things), I do not try to recreate, but to record how the subjects’ color touches me. Using yellow-based pigment to begin my painting, I try to convey a warm sunny glow throughout. I am more interested in happy feelings than in a somber, moody piece. Excitement describes my initial beginning and I try to continue that energy throughout the painting. I do not rely on spatial interpretations to define my pictures, but rather use color and line to move the eye around my composition. Included in my treatments are details put in as loosely and simply as possible. I am intrigued with buildings, as owners think of them as their “babies”. I interpret them as building portraits. I do love the beach as I grew up seeing people on the beach and in the water. It renews in me the whimsical, colorful side of us. I would like to invite the viewer to come inside my paintings and take a look around instead of standing outside observing from a distance.
Bio
I was born in Long Beach and grew up in Downey, California where I was encouraged in art by a friend of my mothers. I started drawing pastel portraits at age 10. Throughout school I took art classes, having my first one man show in high school. I went to Long Beach State College, California as an Art major. During the same time period, I attended Cerritos College as a pre-med and Art major. I then went to the University of Southern California and received a B.S. degree in Dental Hygiene.
After getting married and having two children, I still painted part time, took workshops and entered juried shows. After we moved to Utah in 1995 and my children graduated from college, I earnestly started painting.
Now with a studio on Historic 25th Street in Ogden Utah, I am able to paint the fronts of businesses in the area. I also do commissions for residents in Ogden and throughout the country.
Resume
Art Education
- Long Beach State College, California (3 years)
- Cerritos College, California (3 years)
Juried Shows and Awards
- Eccles Women’s Competition 2022, 2023, 2024
- Cover of ACE Magazine 2022
- Eccles Pride Show 2020, 2021, 2023
- Women Artists Exhibition 2020
- Signature Status: Western Federation of Watercolor Societies 2019
- Spike 150 – Utah’s Celebration of the 150th Anniversary of the Transcontinental Railroad – Runner Up Award 2019
- Traces of the West 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021
- Utah Watercolor Society: Juror’s Award 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2016, 2018, Signature Exhibit – Best of Show 2019, 2020 Fall Show, 2022, 2023, 2024
- Hogle Zoo 2003, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011; Traveling Exhibit 2004, 2010; Juror’s Award 2012, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023
- Palette Club, 3rd Place, Dec. 2015, Best of Show 2019
- Eccles Statewide Competition 2003, 2002, 2001; Award of Merit 2002, 2012, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 3rd Place Award 2021, 2023
- Mayor’s Award in the Arts (Visual Arts) 2017
- Utah Watercolor Society Juror’s Award: Small Exhibit 2017
- Eccles Urban Show 2015
- Utah Watercolor Society Signature & Two Star Exhibition, Honorable Mention Oct. 2015, Best in Show 2019, 2022
- Springville Spiritual & Religious Art Show, Nov. 2013-Jan. 2014
- Ogden Marathon Competition, First Place 2014
- Utah Watercolor Society, Spring Salon, Award of Excellence 2014
- Utah Watercolor Society, Spring Salon, Past Pres. Award 2012, 2013
- Utah Watercolor Society, Fall Show, Juror’s Award 2013
- Pioneer Theater Desert Cities, Oct.-Nov. 2013
- City Creek; Prints given at Gala Opening, Salt Lake City 2012
- Hogle Zoo; “Zuri” Poster 2011
- U.S. World Archery Poster 2010
- Ogden Arts Competition; 1st Place 2010
- Bountiful Davis Art Center Statewide Competition 2002, 2010
- UTA Bus Mural, Ogden Utah 2009
- Park City Arts Festival 2005
- Recognized by Ogden Symphony Ballet as Women in the Arts 2005
- One Man show at Grounds for Coffee in Historic 25th Street Ogden, Utah 2005
- Ogden Arts Festival 1st Commemorative Arts Festival Poster 2004, 2011
- Ogden Harvest Moon Celebration (Salt Lake Magazine) 2003
- Ogden Celebrate the Arts; Plein Air Competition 2nd Place 2005
- Ogden Junior League Cook Book “The Art Of Cooking” 2003
- Palette Club Invitational; 1st Place 2002, 2004 & 2009, Best of Show 2008
- Provo Heritage Show 2002
- Deseret News Landscape Show 2001, 2005
- Cover of Junction Magazine, August 2001
- Le Conte Stewart Landscape Competition 2000 – 2003