My start with my art:
I was 6 years old when my dad set me up to do an oil painting while he painted a portrait..my painting was of a clown. Then at 7 years old, our class did poster pictures for the March of Dimes contest. My teacher thought I had done the best of the class, but mine was not selected for the main poster for the state competition.
There was always paint, ink, easels, and printing in my life growing up around the Ace Sign Company. I never cared for the art instructions in the various art classes in school. Boring!! Though in college I did take a couple of classes.
Then one day when I was working with my dad at our Atlas Sign Company, my dad brought in a pastel pencil drawing he had done that I fell in love with. I have it to this day and so enjoy it. I asked him what he used to draw this incredible drawing of a boy and his dog, and the next day he brought in the pastel pencils and I was hooked! I've never looked backed!
I always had my dad to help me over the rough spots.
My love of dogs led me on the road to doing my pastel portraits.
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I entered the first ever juried Art Show At the Dog Show in Wichita, KS and had 2 of my paintings accepted. I entered again several years later and had my Italian Greyhound portrait accepted, then in 2016 I entered again and was accepted with my portrait of a Flat Coated Retriever with a duck.
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I had two of my portraits on the first covers of the Giant Schnauzer Clubs National Magazine. My Corgi portrait was also on the cover of their national magazine.
My love of dogs took me into the AKC obedience rings, showcasing their obedience expertise. I enjoyed this so much that I obtained 4 Obedience Trial Champions, a perfect 200 score, 7 tracking titles, and 3 tracking dog excellent titles. And, I became a judge of AKC obedience trials and tracking tests. Along this journey, I played in the agility ring with 3 of my Golden Retrievers. Today, I am enjoying taking my Golden Retrievers to hunt tests, experiencing what they were bred for.
I was 6 years old when my dad set me up to do an oil painting while he painted a portrait..my painting was of a clown. Then at 7 years old, our class did poster pictures for the March of Dimes contest. My teacher thought I had done the best of the class, but mine was not selected for the main poster for the state competition.
There was always paint, ink, easels, and printing in my life growing up around the Ace Sign Company. I never cared for the art instructions in the various art classes in school. Boring!! Though in college I did take a couple of classes.
Then one day when I was working with my dad at our Atlas Sign Company, my dad brought in a pastel pencil drawing he had done that I fell in love with. I have it to this day and so enjoy it. I asked him what he used to draw this incredible drawing of a boy and his dog, and the next day he brought in the pastel pencils and I was hooked! I've never looked backed!
I always had my dad to help me over the rough spots.
My love of dogs led me on the road to doing my pastel portraits.
--------
I entered the first ever juried Art Show At the Dog Show in Wichita, KS and had 2 of my paintings accepted. I entered again several years later and had my Italian Greyhound portrait accepted, then in 2016 I entered again and was accepted with my portrait of a Flat Coated Retriever with a duck.
--------
I had two of my portraits on the first covers of the Giant Schnauzer Clubs National Magazine. My Corgi portrait was also on the cover of their national magazine.
My love of dogs took me into the AKC obedience rings, showcasing their obedience expertise. I enjoyed this so much that I obtained 4 Obedience Trial Champions, a perfect 200 score, 7 tracking titles, and 3 tracking dog excellent titles. And, I became a judge of AKC obedience trials and tracking tests. Along this journey, I played in the agility ring with 3 of my Golden Retrievers. Today, I am enjoying taking my Golden Retrievers to hunt tests, experiencing what they were bred for.