I have always been creative. God gives each person born some degree of creativity. Unfortunately, sometimes we do not pursue that in our lives and it grows stale. Many times when I was younger, people would say “you have talent, but you need to get a real job to make a living.” This put a limit on my creativity and my freedom to follow my dreams that God had put in my heart. Now at 70, I have a desire to use my talents for His Glory.

Artistic ability ran in my family, my grandfather, my mother, and her sister all painted. I would watch my grandfather paint when I went to visit and he gave me watercolor and pastels so I could paint also. Growing up in San Angelo, Texas, I was able to be a part of a wonderful art program for young artists and learned to use many different mediums. As an Air Force wife in my 20’s, we were stationed in Azores, Portugal, where I was able to study with Senior Maduro Dias and not only honed my skills, but also was able to assist in teaching other students.

After returning to the States, life got in the way, and I was unable to do much with my art, though I never gave it up completely. At the end of 2019, I just felt like I needed to paint and picked up some watercolors and acrylics, dug out my oil paints and pastels, and began to create again. In 2020, I won 1st and 2nd place at the Cotton Festival Art Show, truly a blessing for something I enjoy so much.

I have recently joined the Elmore County Art Guild, Prattauga Art Guild, and The Kelly museum and look forward to being able to participate in art activities.