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 I have drawn and painted since
childhood, but set art aside for years in pursuit of other goals. Then in 1998, my husband Andrew and I moved
to Salt Lake City so that he could enter the
law program at the University
of Utah. I worked at the U in research
administration. Soon after that, I
received an unusual inheritance from my grandmother. She was an oil painter, and the family
bequeathed to me her unused canvases.
So, on Pioneer Day that first year in Utah, I took a canvas and some paint and
spent some time in the hills attempting a painting. More paintings followed as Andrew and I
had the opportunity to explore more and more of this beautiful place.
When
Andrew graduated, I entered the University
of Utah art program,
fitting classes around my work schedule.
With the skills gained there, I did more landscape painting. We would take
off to explore Utah’s west desert, the Yampa River, or the San Rafael Swell, and I
would bring along my paints and try to capture some of it on canvas.
Then in
2003, two things happened to change the course of our lives. We learned that we were expecting a baby
girl, and Andrew received a job offer from the Forest Service office in
Escalante. Both were good news. I only regretted that my art career was
ending before it really began.
To my
surprise, it seems that these changes were not only good per se, but were good for me as a painter. The Escalante area offers enough natural
beauty to occupy an artist for life. The joys and exhaustion of parenthood
are well known, but thanks to naps and the occasional babysitter, I still
have time to paint. With the help and
encouragement of friends in Escalante, I have had opportunities to show my
work at the Serenidad Gallery and at the Anasazi
Indian State
Park, opportunities I would not have had as a student in Salt Lake City.
So here
I am in southern Utah,
the mom of a sparkling, funny little girl, blessed with a spouse and friends
who support and encourage my art and with a wealth of beautiful places to
explore and paint.
The
following are some samples of paintings of mine. Thanks for your interest.
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