How long have you been creating?

I think I would have to say all my life in one way or another. Either drawing, crafts, creating functional or non-functional items have always been a part of my life. Drawing has always been there though and colouring. Painting didn’t enter my life until the end of 1997 when I was drawing a landscape for my father as a Christmas present. Being a sunset scene, it needed the vibrancy I just wasn’t going to get from graphite or coloured pencil in my opinion. I ventured into that first painting apprehensive of what the outcome was going to be. But as I set the brush to work, the challenge created an adrenaline that filled me in a way I never quit experienced before. Although it was powerful, it did not keep me going at it-at least not right away. The lack of knowledge to create what I wanted overpowered that desire so I continued creating in other avenues but kept painting in the back of my mind. I spent a lot of time observing paintings that appealed to me and tried learning from them. I read some books but most were geared toward the oil painter and I found I was more partial to acrylic. It wasn’t until late 2001 that I attempted to paint again and slowly got into the supports and paints needed for the kind of painting I now was venturing into. A few months later, I was invited to an online art group. From there it was a snowball with the pieces of the puzzle falling into place.

How would you describe your work?

I describe my work as in the style of realism. My subjects mainly are animals of some kind focusing on eyes or facial features but I have also included people and botanical. I try to capture the most appealing aspects of an image and transfer the feeling that I pick up from it. Most of my paintings are all about a single moment and try to convey a thought or feeling. Backgrounds have not been high on my list and are mostly in a simplistic fashion. I’ve been told I should be doing more complex ones and perhaps one day I will get the urge to do so. But at this stage of my painting, all my energy goes into focusing on that one feeling.

What are you motivations for creating?

I have been creating as far back as I can remember and can only say its part of my being. Creating thru either the written word or thru graphic is my way of expressing feeling. I’m a real feely kind of a person and it has to come out one way or another or I would explode. I have not had the desire to express myself in an abstract or impressionistic way but more to replicate what I actually see- Trying to capture something that creates a feeling in me. I would say that a great part of it is an outlet. My first admirations were for Paul Peel and later Sandra Kuck and Ingrid Hunt. Upon discovering ebay, it was the creations of Sandy Byers that led me to try my hand at painting animals.

Have you seen any art that has moved you recently?

Yes everyday. I look on ebay alone and am moved by what I see. I have a great admiration for those that express themselves in ways that I can’t. Some that come to mind are some of our very own members. Those that create sentiment are the ones that touch the deepest.

What do you find visually stimulating right now?

Springtime! The rebirth of nature and the excitement of the birds and animals.

What's the last book you read?

“Thunder of the Mustangs”- Legend and Lore of the Wild Horses

Animals are recurrent themes in your art--tell me about your passion for painting them.

I didn’t have any pets as a young child and learned to love them through books. I remember spending hours doing projects for me on biology and horses. Later I went thru in Animal Sciences and worked in a Veterinary Service, a local Humane Society and finally as a Wildlife Rehabilitator. I was passionate about my work but for medical reasons had to leave the workforce and now have my home full of various creatures- 3 cats, 2 dogs, a cockatiel, 25 zebra finches, a Bearded Dragon and goldfish in the pond. I think if my children had their way, we would have more! I love them and I spend hours of everyday with each of them. The quality time-the bonding, watching, reading their emotion and thoughts. It is only natural that they would be my subjects.

What would you like your fellow EBSQ artists and our collectors to know about you and/or your work?

I have had no formal training-no teachers, historical lessons or theory of art and couldnt begin to analysis or express my opinion about any of it. If I paint an image for myself, or for sale or as a commission, my final goal is to try and capture the soul or character of my subject. My final outcome is to hopefully spark a treasured moment or memory within the viewer.