Member Biography

ARTIST STATEMENT

"Painting and teaching art in my travels have provided a wonderful learning and growing experience and continues to fulfill my aspiration and development. The exposure to different cultures and lifestyles has enhanced my life and artistic endeavors in immeasurable ways."

Growing up Northwestern Nebraska farm country, my artistic endeavors were achieved on a self-taught basis–simply drawing and painting. From 1979-2001 I resided in Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand, Guam, Hawaii and Yap, Micronesia My focus was artistic growth, learning as I taught others to draw and paint. In Indonesia I worked as a creative animation director and batik color coordinator. In Melbourne, Australia I developed and conducted a Portfolio Presentation Program for The Youth Adult Bureau. In Guam I taught watercolor for DOE Gifted and Talented Program and in Hawaii I taught watercolor for the Continuing Education Program at the University of Hawaii. A painting trip in 1991 to Yap, a state of the Federated States of Micronesia, evolved in a move to the small island to paint. After a year I accepted an offer from the Yap Department of Education to teach eight local young men to be illustrators. These young men then illustrated eight books focusing on local stories which where printed in the four local languages and English and placed in the schools. It was the first time for books in their language to be in the schools. Upon my return to the U.S./ Colorado in 2001 I taught drawing and watercolor for Colorado Mountain College, Western Colorado Center of the Arts, Western Colorado Community College, along with private studio classes and workshops. In 2006 I moved to Seattle. I continue to teach and do workshops.

I have participated in local and national art organizations worldwide receiving a number of awards including awards in 2004 and 2006 from National Arts in the Parks. Three pieces were juried into the 2005 Wild Life Show at John Logan Museum, Illinois. Private, public and corporate collectors worldwide have purchased my work.

June of 2005 F & W Publishing/ North Light Books released a drawing instruction book I wrote and illustrated.

July of 2006 Art Path Press released a book I illustrated "The Rayamana" written by Lynne Jessep. A companion teacher's manual illustrated at the same time is to be published in the near future.

2008

• Contemporary Images in Watercolor/Solo Show, Tamarac Office, Seattle

2005

• Off the Wall 2, Feature Artist

2004 - 2006

• Western Colorado Community College Chez Lena, Feature Artist

1997 - 2000

• Ongoing Exhibit, Manta Ray Hotel

1992

• Solo Exhibit, Pathways Hotel, Yap Microbesia
• Solo Exhibit "Yap" - Arts of Paradise
• Solo Exhibit "Yap" - Holomalaheea Botanical Gardents, Kaneohe, Hawaii
• Solo Exhibit "Yap" - Foster Garden, Honolulu, Hawaii

1991

• Painting Trip, Yap Island, Sponsored by Continental Airlines
• Windward Orchid Society Exhibition, Blaisdale Center, Honolulu, Hawaii (1986-1991)

1984 - 1990

• Solo Exhibit - "Flowers of Hawaii," Holomalaheea Botanical Gardens, Kaneohe Hawaii (1990)
• Three Person Watercolor Exhibit, Hawaii Medical Society (1989
• Solo Exhibit, Pauahi Tower, Honolulu, Hawaii (1987)
• Solo Exhibit, Territorial Savings, Honolulu, Hawaii (1987)
• Solo Exhibit, Colorful Creations (1984)
• Solo Exhibit, Palau Trip, Colorful Creations (1984)
• Painting Trip to Palau/Sponsored by Continental Airliens (1984)
• Group Exhibit, Colorful Creations (1984)

AWARDS/JURIED SHOWS

2006

• National Arts for the Parks, top 100 & top 100 mini (3 pieces)
• PAL/ Best of Show/Fruit Industry & First Place

2005

• PAL/ First, Second & Honorable Mention
• Wild Life Juried Show, John Logan Museum, IL (3 accepted)

2003 - 2004

• National Arts for the Parks, top 100 Traveling Exhibit & Mini
• PAL/First and Third
• Edge of Cedars/Best in Show & 2nd Place
• PAL/First and Second (2003)
• Real West Show - AppleShed/ Best Watercolor

2002

• Village Artist/ Best of Show
• Pitkin County Fair/Best of Show
• Garfield County Fair/First and Second
• Black Canyon Art Exhibit/First Place Watercolor
• Montrose Visual Art Guild/Third Place Drawing
• Palisade Art Lovers/Second Place Watercolor/Third Place Drawing
• Dream Garden Art Show/ First Place
• Grand Junction Brush & Palette/Honorable Mention

2000-2001

• Fall Art Festival Glenwood Springs/Honorable Mention Watercolor/Second Place Drawing
• ISLA/Focus on Micronesia/Best of Show Poster Award

1972-1992

• Northwest Watercolor Juried Show
• National League of American Pen Women
• Hawaii Audubon Society/Third Place
• Association of Honolulu Artists/ Top Artists of Hawaii
• Hawaii Watercolor Society Members Show/1 of 12 Best of Show
• 24th Annual Hawaii Watercolor Society Show
• Northwestern States Traveling Exhibit
• Governor's Award (1972)
• North Platte Valley Five State Juried Show/Third Place

TEACHING/WORK EXPERIENCE

2000-2009

• Artist in Residence, New Emerson Elem. School, Orchard Mesa, CO
• W/C on Distressed Paper, Daniel Smith, Seattle & Bellevue
• Instructor, Summer Art Camp, W. Colorado Art Center ('03 & '06)
• Drawing & Color Theory, W. Colorado Comm. College, Grand Jct., CO
• Workshop/Draw Now/Dahl Art Center & Gallery, Rapid City, SD
• DRAW NOW, published by F & W Publishers (2005)
• Workshop/Composition/Waterworks, Athens, GA
• Drawing & Color Theory, UTEC
• Instructor, Watercolor, Colorado Mountain College, Rifle
• W/C Instructor, Kids Week, W. Colorado Art Center
• Art Instructor for Illustrators, Yap State DOE

1997 - present

• Owner, Yap Art Studio & Gallery

1980 - 1987

• Art Instructor & Gallery Owner - Hawaii/Guam, Australia, Indonesia, Colorado

Poppies

return to Women Painters of Washington