Biography

ARTIST'S STATEMENT

Raised in the remote Southwest Texas/Mexico borderlands, I grew up running wild and free. I enjoyed the wild animals and rough canyon lands. Drawing was my way of capturing the beauty around me. Family lore tells that I was drawing things that interested me at the age of two.

I started selling my works at the age of 15 by doing portraits of my friend's horses, 4-H and FFA livestock. At the age of 34, after raising my two sons, I decided to attend the Rocky Mountain College of Fine Art in Denver, Colorado. I graduated with a degree in Drawing and Painting in 1988. I have continued to study with artists whose work I admire such as J.S. Botham of Joseph, Oregon, and Frank Covino of Sugar Bush, Vermont.

I enjoy the discipline of the classical academical approach and continue to produce works as realistic as possible in drawing, painting and sculpture. I approach my work with praise and thanksgiving to my Creator and hope I can bring to my viewers the beauty of the world around us.

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EDUCATION

CLASSICAL ACADEMIC PAINTING 1992, 1993, 1995, 1997 and 2001
Completed 200 class hours in classical academical painting techniques of the Renaissance old masters under Frank Covino.

JOSEPH SCHOOL OF ART Joseph, Oregon 1997

Studied sculpture of animals in motion under J.S. Botham

ART STUDENTS LEAGUE New York, New York 1990-1991
Studied Drawing and Painting with America DeFranza and Portrait Painting with John Howard Sanden. Also studied Restoration of Works of Art with the head of The Metropolitan Museum of Fine Arts, Restoration Department.

ROCKY MOUNTAIN COLLEGE OF ART AND DESIGN Denver, Colorado
Distinguished Honors, Deans List Graduated 1988 with Degree in Fine Art, Drawing and Painting
Studied Print Making, Fine Art Education, Color Theory, Art History, Composition and Design, Experimental Materials, Sculpture, Figure Drawing and Painting, Life Drawing, Portraiture, Art Economics and Law, Research and Writing.

BOULDER COLORADO MASSAGE INSTITUTE
Special class with a veterinarian in order to understand and correctly represent human and horse anatomy and skeletal and muscle function.

BUD BIGGS SCHOOL OF WATERCOLOR San Angelo, TX 1976 Completed a 40-hour course in watercolor technique.

CHAIRITABLE COMMUNITY ART CONTRIBUTIONS

2006
Selected to be one of the two artists to complete 27 Bald Eagles for downtown Art Display in Grants Pass. Sponsored by Evergreen Federal Bank.

2005
Painted a Dog House for Friends of the K9s to be auctioned to support local K9 Law Enforcement Dogs.

2005
Juried into the Grants Pass Wildlife Art Show to benefit the Grants Pass Museum of Art and Wildlife Images.

2005
Chosen to participate in Grants Pass Bear Fest, sponsored by Evergreen Federal Bank. The bears were auctioned off to benefit local charities.

2004
Juried into the Grants Pass Wildlife Art Show to benefit the Grants Pass Museum of Art and Wildlife Images.

2004
Selected as an artist to participate in Grants Pass Bear Fest, sponsored by Evergreen Federal Bank. The bears were auctioned off to benefit local charities.

WHITE HORSE STUDIO 1988-present
Instructor in Art Education
The studio is a working and instructional studio, specializing in fine art education for children.

GRANTS PASS MUSEUM OF ART 2004-present
I teach children's art classes utilizing different mediums such as watercolors, sculpture, drawing, and acrylic painting.

GRANTS PASS BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB February 2006- present
Instructor in Art Education
I teach children's art classes utilizing different mediums such as watercolors, sculpture, drawing, and acrylic painting.

READ INSTITUTE OF HOME-BASED LEARNING CONNECTION 1996-2001
Instructor in Art Education
Established and taught a well-rounded art curriculum for children who are homeschooled.

MOUNT SEXTON INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL 1994-2005
Art Instructor
Designed and instructed art curriculum for students of Faye Rust. This prestigious school focused on children with emotional and/or behavioral issues.

MAJOR ART FRAMING (formerly Train Gallery) 1988-1990
Fine Art Instructor
Instruction and workshops for adults and children.

VIDEO INSTRUCTION 1978
After attending a demonstration I gave on drawing horses and other animals, Dale Hamlett, Professor of Art at Eastern New Mexico University, invited me to help him produce a series of videos using my unique style of instruction for the college's Art Department.

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AWARDS

2008
Work selected for the Limited Edition Wildlife label for Foris Vineyard wines

2006
Annual Wallowa Valley Art Show, Joseph, Oregon, First Place Print

2005
Best Of Show in Pastel Medium in the National Western Heritage Invitational, Oklahoma

2004
First Place for Aquatint Intaglio Print Altus, Oklahoma. This Intaglio Print can be found in This Bountiful Place, Art About Agriculture, The Permanent Collection. ISBN-0-87595-303-4 Oregon college of Agricultural Sciences at Oregon State University.

1997
National Society of Artists Silver Brush Award

1996
National Society of Workshop Artists Annual Invitational Show Tulsa, OK First Place
National Society of Artists, Bronze Award in Drawing
Draft Horse Classic, Award in Drawing

1995
AAUW Show, First Place in Drawing

1992
AAUW People's Choice Award in Drawing

1990
Art about Agriculture Show, Director, Oregon Agricultural Experiment Station Purchase Award, Missy and Thayne Duston Aquatint Intaglio Print.

1988
Rocky Mountain College 25th Annual Competition Gold Medal in Painting

1986
Rocky Mountain Invitational Gold Medal in Drawing

1979
Texas Fine Art Association, Best of Show and Purchase Award, Dalby Cattle Co.
Comanche Springs Annual Invitational, Best of Show and Purchase Award, Senator Pete Snelson
Post Texas Western Art Show, Best of Show and People's Choice Award
Seminole Texas Fine Art Association Invitational, Best of Show and People's Choice Award
Llano Estacado Fine Art Association, Brownfield, Texas, Best of Show and People's Choice Award
San Angelo Texas Fine Art Association, Best of Show
National Cowgirl Hall of Fame Invitational, Hereford, Texas, First Place in Drawing

1978
Odessa Texas Fine Art Association, Best of Show, First Place in Drawing and Purchase Award, Furrs Cafeteria
Comanche Springs Annual Invitational, Best of Show and Purchase Award, 6S Enterprises
Post Texas Western Art Show, Best of Show and First Place in Drawing and Purchase Award
Seminole Texas Fine Art Association, First Place in Drawing and Purchase Award Clark Insurance
One Man Invitational Show, Hemphill-Wells, San Angelo, Texas

1977
San Angelo Fine Art Association, Best of Show and Purchase Award, Cattleman's Association

MEMBERSHIP

2006
Member Wildlife Artist Association