About the Artist:

My first memories are of painting watercolors on the back porch in the summertime with this little tin of paints, a brush, and some paper. And I remember asking Santa for a Jon Gnagy drawing set. The urge to create has never left me. I finally started taking lessons in my early 20s, culminating in one of my pieces hanging in the Saginaw Art Museum show. Then, suddenly I became a divorced mother and needed to have a steady income. The result was a 25-year hiatus. With a buy-out and an early retirement I could finally achieve my dream—painting watercolors. After a few years of retirement, I was asked to become a gallery owner. I accepted and now after 14 years I co-own a gallery that is known as a cornerstone in the historic arts district. Today I combine my business background with my art dream. I now belong in the art world. My interests are in nature—I love painting flowers and birds. Georgia O’Keefe’s florals are my inspiration. The Treasure Coast offers the perfect location to paint nature in all its splendor. My watercolors are created to let others experience the thrill of living here with the large colorful florals and unique birds that are found along the waters of Florida. As I have continued on this journey, I find that my work has involved into contemporary watercolors. The use of texture with bright, bold colors has freed my creativity into a unique modern new style. I am thrilled to show my watercolors in gallery and shows. My paintings now have an unusual visual feeling created through my use of special papers, new colors and various techniques. Now my watercolors span from the traditional style to a new modern, contemporary style.

Awards 2022 3- Brevard Aquarium Art Walk, Brevard County, FL 2021 “Best of the Best”, A.E. Backus, The Annual Juried Show, Ft. Piece, FL 2021 ELC Pelican Island Preservation Exhibit, Wabasso, FL 2020 1st and 3rd Place, Pelican Island Preservation Exhibit, Sebastian, FL 2020 2-1st Places ArtTini, Vero Beach Art Club Exhibit, Vero Beach, FL 2020 Soaring to New Heights Exhibit, Vero Beach Airport, Vero Beach, FL 2019 Award of Merit, Art by the Sea Exhibit, Vero Beach, FL 2018 First Place, Exhibit by American Pen Women of Vero Beach, Vero Beach, FL 2018 Honorable Mention, Indian River Birding Festival, Sebastian, FL 2015 Solo Exhibit, The Colors of Paradise, Mary Ann Hall, Sebastian, FL 2015 Solo Exhibit, Celebrating the Works of Mary Ann Hall, Vero Beach, FL 2015 Sebastian Studio Art Tour, Sebastian. FL 2014 Best of Show, Indian River County Courthouse Exhibit, Vero Beach, FL 2014 and 2015 CALENDART Exhibit, Arts Mundo, Ft. Pierce, FL 2011 Easter Seal Stamp Artist, National Competition 2010 First Place, Arts Mundo Invitational Exhibit, Ft. Pierce, FL 2010 Second Place, Sebastian River Art Club Autumn Fest, Sebastian, FL 2010 “Best of the Best”, A.E. Backus, The Annual Juried Show, Ft. Piece, FL 2007 Honorable Mention, Treasure Coast Competitive Art Exhibition, Vero Beach, FL