An artists lifelong career is a journey of sorts. It is who you have met along the way , where you have been, and how it influenced you and your  art.  We all have a story, this is mine.    

     Who would believe the most impressive art instruction I had was at the young age of ten years old?  Miss Bass taught the  discipline of art, watercolor brushwork, and how to express myself.  She declared I was talented and that followed me the rest of my life. Future jurors would comment on what one called, " Very gutsy painting!" 

    Only when working toward a MFA did I find another instructor who understood the natural beauty of watercolor and for that matter the essence of art.  Brockie Stevenson, himself a very talented artist, knew the medium as it was  demonstrated by  Joseph Turner and  John Singer Sargent. He encouraged spontanious drawing using both pencil and brush. 

     The glory of art was mine to behold while living in Madrid and traveling throughout Europe.  The museums, cities filled with wonders, and landscapes took my breath away. After this experience of a lifetime we lived in Panama where the jungle brought a new view of vibrant  flowers, birds, and lush landscape.  The tropics  are a wonder indeed.

      The most unforgetable experience was learning the brushwork of Mr Chang. the grandson of a Chinese  Imperial Court painter .  Copying the work of a Chinese master not only teaches you to  be a master of art but to add your own energy and spirit to your copies of the master's art. You recognize  his mood, his joys and sorrows from the  rush of waterfalls, the ultimate expressions of nature, and ultimately  you are added to his school of painting.  While visiting the Yellow Mountains in China Mr.Chang's art could be seen  in the mist of the mountains, and the whisper of the pines, a prevailing whisper of a grest talent.

      We come to today and I sincerely wonder how meaningful I will find the work you see today. Technology virtually swept me away with its magic. The fabric I have always dyed for fun when combined with my garden flowers created an art through Photoshop and Epson printers which captivated my soul and surpassed all dreams of vibrant  color. Soon the fabric stood alone as a work of art. As I often miss the watercolor and drawing experiences I am very sure we will meet again when I least expect it.