It seems like I have been drawing all my life.  I grew up in Ewing, Missouri, a small town of about 340 people.  I also spent a lot of time on my grandparent’s farm in Steffenville, MO.  The rural community was my subject matter.  My talent and interest in art came from my dad.  He was always drawing horses for me.

 I never had any formal art training other than classes in grade, middle, and freshman art in high school.  So it has mainly been trial and error.

 I decided to try painting about 16 years ago.  But a year later I remarried and gained 4 children (I had 2 of my own).  So painting had to be put aside to raise my family.  Then in 2000 I decided to try again and have been at it ever since.

 My painting style is mainly realistic and my favorite medium is acrylics.  I paint from photographs that I have taken myself.  I like a lot of looser styles but my brain doesn’t work that way yet.  (But I am working on it!)

"Splash"

Awards

Awards:

2000

“Summer Snow”             1^st Place – Marion County Art Show – Palmyra, MO

“Magnolia Blossoms”      3^rd  Place – Strawberry Festival – St. Louis, MO 

“Autumn Gold”         1^st Place – Strawberry Festival – St. Louis, MO 

2001

“Simple Pleasures”   1^st Place and Dr. Robert Jones Award – Hannibal Art Show - Hannibal, MO

                                  1^st Place – John Wood Community College Art Competition – Quincy, IL 

“Suffer the Little Children”   Best of Show – John Wood Community College Art Competition – Quincy

                                               3^rd Place – Marion County Art Show – Palmyra, MO

                                               4^th Place – Northlight Book Club Cover Contest – Amateur Division 

 Tea Anyone?”         Honorable Mention – Strawberry Festival 

“Garden Party”         3^rd Place – Marion County Art Show – Palmyra, Mo                                              

“Out to Lunch”         2^nd Place – Strawberry Festival – St. Louis, MO                                 

 2002

“One Small Voice”   Best of Show – John Wood Community College Art Competition

                                  Accepted into Quad-State Juried Exhibition – Quincy, IL

                                  2^nd Place – Marion County Art Show – Palmyra, MO
”Autumn Splendor”  3^rd Place – Hannibal Art Show – Hannibal, MO

 2003

 “Bushels of Baskets”  Best of  Show – Marion County Art Show – Palmyra, MO

                                     Best Amateur Painting Under Glass – Raintree Art Show – Clarksville, MO

                                     Accepted into Juried Show – MO 50 Exhibition (MO State Fair)                                          

                                     Featured in the Art Clinic in the Artist Magazine

 “Golden Gate”             Purchase Award – Raintree Art Show – Clarksville, MO

 “One Small Voice”      Purchase Award – Raintree Art Show – Clarksville, MO

 2004

“Abandoned”            Accepted into Juried Show – The Municipal Art League – Chicago, IL

                                  Accepted into Juried Show – Winston Churchill Memorial Art Show – Fulton, MO

                                  1^st Place – Hannibal Art Show – Hannibal, MO 

“Ancient History”     3^rd Place – Marion County Art Show – Palmyra, MO

 “Splash”                    Honorable Mention – John Wood Community College Art Competition

                                   Honorable Mention – Marion County Art Show 

 “Shades of Autumn” Honorable Mention – Raintree Art Show – Clarksville, MO

 2005

“Reflections”                      1^st Place – Marion Co. Art Show – Palmyra, MO

                                            1^st Place – Raintree Art Show – Clarksville, MO

                                            2^nd Place – Hannibal Art Show – Hannibal, MO 

“Broken and Spilled Out”   Honorable Mention – Raintree Art Show – Clarksville, MO 

“Free Spirit”                        3^rd Place – Raintree Art Show – Clarksville, MO 

“Yesteryears”                      Honorable Mention – John Wood Community College Art Show   

December 2005 – Solo Show at Hannibal-Lagrange College, Hannibal, MO 

2006

“Summer Blooms”               Accepted into Juried Show – Quad-State Juried Exhibition  - Quincy, IL 

“Broken and Spilled Out”    Accepted into Juried Show – Quad-State Juried Exhibition – Quincy, IL 

“Bushels of Baskets”            Accepted into American Juried Art Salon – An online

                                              National Juried Exhibition

Accepted into the Mary S. Oakley Area Artist Showcase
 
1st Place & 3rd Place - Marion County Art Show
 
Originale Merit Award - Hannibal Art Show
 
3rd Place - John Wood Community College Art Show
 
Honorable Mention - Raintree Art Show
 
2007
 
Achievement in Art Award - Midsummer Art Faire
 
Accepted into the Missouri State Fair Top 50
 
Purchase Award - Gazebo Art Festival
 
Best Landscape - Raintree Art Show
 
3rd Place - John Wood Community College Art Show
 
3rd Place - Marion County Art Show