I’ve always been interested in art, but it’s been more in the background up until the last 4 or 5 years. I studied engineering at Penn State. During my first job I met my husband, an army officer. We’ve lived a lot of places, Virginia, western PA, Georgia, and Arizona. During that time I picked up some art classes while going to school for my graduate degree and working. I took things like: ceramics, drawing, watercolor, and botanical drawing.
My engineering job was great except it was stressful and high pressure. I was in front of a computer and confined to a cubicle all day. When the Army moved us to Kansas City I was thankful for the break. I felt this was an opportunity from the Lord to pursue art.
I didn’t know anything about KC but I eventually found out KC is a good place for art. I studied watercolor with an artist from Hallmark. He encouraged his students and had a fun approach which is what I needed. He had a big influence on how I use color and taught me to use lots of water letting the colors blend and run together.
I also studed Chinese Painting with a teacher from China at the art institute and enjoy the challenging brush strokes and concentration that requires.
I took Art History at the community college (with the freshman!). This gave me more of an appreciation for and understanding of art. It also lead to a month long trip to Italy with the community college.
I was encouraged to take figure drawing to be more prepared for the art I’d be doing in Italy. I was terribly afraid and insecure not really having the prerequisites for figure drawing, plus most of the other students had taken the class before! I would have to repeated scripture verses like Psalm 23 to myself as I was drawing just to get through class. It did improved my drawing and observation skills and confidence in creating art.
I also needed to get used to painting among people. I decided that the community college campus was a safe location since most students are pretty focused on doing their own thing. So I started painting in the student union and other places around campus …and then eventually at coffee shops and parks with friends.
The trip to Italy was wonderful! I spent 3 weeks in Florence and the surrounding area studying art history and painting and drawing and 3 days each in Venice and Rome.
I also painted during a trip to San Antonio. Greg had to go there for work so I spent time painting at the Alamo, River Walk, Mission and Spanish Governor’s Mansion.
Locally here, I’ve gone on plein air paint outs, studied drawing and portrait drawing and gone to still-life workshops. I studied watercolor with a local artist who encouraged me to use darker colors.
I also enjoy Fraktur, a folk art version of illuminated text.
Most of my paintings are done from life but I do some work from photos. I really enjoy painting outside since I can experience and observe a location while I am painting. I also enjoy meeting people while I paint. Last spring (2010) I painted in my first plein air competition in Kutztown with some friends.
I have a plein air set up that fits into a back pack. I also have smaller step ups that I can carry about anywhere. When out painting I start with a view finder to determine what I’m going to include in the painting. Then I do a thumb nail drawing or value sketch and figuring out what will fit on the paper and determining a pleasing composition. I start by drawing shapes on the watercolor paper and then painting large areas or doing an under painting to unify the painting. Then I paint starting with lighter values and working darker and from general and large shapes to smaller things and details. I usually do small paintings on location and paint bigger paintings inside from photos. I take my camera along when outside so that I can finish my painting at home from a photo if needed adding the darker values and finishing touches. A few times it has started to rain while I was painting and I’ve had to pack up quickly.
I hope that my paintings reflect a little of God’s glory and His wonderful creation.
