Tell us about how and when you first started painting?

My mom signed me up for an oil painting class at a Las Vegas community center when I was 7 or 8 with my best friend.  I seemed to have knack for it.

Did you experience start, stop and restart in your painting career?

Yes.   I majored in painting and drawing in college and I had more time to paint after college and before I had my son.  Now that he is a bit older and self sufficient, I may be able to spend bit of time making some art-that is, when not working my regular job.

Tell us about the highlights of your career as an artist?

I showed a few times at the Arts Factory downtown which is no longer called the Arts Factory; I showed with the Henderson Art Association near Water Street and also at the golf club at Lake Las Vegas.  I enjoyed so many of the art projects I taught my students as an elementary art teacher for the Clark County School District for 6 years including sunsets, the Renaissance, Andy Warhol, design projects, etc..

What mediums and genres have you tried?  Which ones do you like and which ones are boring?

I’ve tried acrylics, oil, chalk and oil pastels, pencil, sculpture, and printmaking.  I like acrylics because they dry fast-easy to work with.  Pastels can be fun!  Oils are require a little more time and knowledge of technique for me to learn.

Which mediums and genres are you excited about?

I find inspiration from places I’ve taken pictures of (nature) or relatives have sent me photos of.   I’ve enjoyed painting people.

What inspires you the most?

Love for life!

Who is your favorite artist?

Van Gogh, because of his love for life!

Tell me about any procrastination habits?

I don’t want to start painting when I don’t have a couple hours to get into it. 

How do you get an idea for your artwork?

Some of my paintings have been from photos I’ve taken of beautiful, interesting places.  I’ve enjoyed doing colorful portraits, paintings that incorporate architecture, and nature. 

What are your thoughts about learning art at this time in your life?

I learn art best when I am creating it.  It takes practice, although da Vinci only did about five major paintings so creating a few a year isn’t a bad thing.

What makes you happiest about your art?

I like the bright colors in many of my pieces and expressing the beauty of creation in some of my art.  For example,  I did a painting 5 years ago of a coi fish from a photo I took at the Bellagio Conservatory.  I enjoy the off balance composition and the plants and the fish and harmony of nature represented in the painting. 

Is there a particular time of day you enjoy painting?

I enjoy painting when I have a bit a free time and am well rested and have energy sometime late morning or early afternoon.

Do you listen to music while photographing?  What type of music?  Do you prefer silence?

I usually like music.  It could be jazz, rock, gospel, country, contemporary Christian, or classic.

What role does an artist have in society?

I love art of all forms-visual, music, theatre.  Art brings life, expression, beauty, and emotion into a space.  Art represents life and can speak about healing in our culture.  I heard a great song on the radio called “We all Bleed the Same.”  In the media culture of pitting groups against each other this song about how we should fight for each other, not with each other is positive.

What is the best advice you could give to an aspiring artist?

Paint what you like!  Never give up.  People expect a big success, but success by thoughts and actions slowly over time.

What are you trying to communicate with your art?

I am trying to communicate love, life, peace, harmony, and beauty.

Do you collect anything?

I collect my own art and my son’s art.

What is the last artwork you purchased?

A sculpture of a creature/person made from welded old bicycles from an artist in Goldfield, NV.

What is the most important item in your studio or work area?

My large easel.