About the Artist

At 2 years of age.


Christmas 2000


Halloween 2002

 2004

    I've lived the majority of my life in Houston, Texas, but was born in Las Vegas, Nevada, on October 11, 1955. I currently live in the West side of Houston,    
     I worked  as a secretary, receptionist, Christian Book-Store Manager, & then an Administrative Assistant to four  Montesory Schools before becoming an artist.
     My husband, three children and five grandchildren are the pride and joy of my life & I often color with them in coloring books & let them paint with me on many different occasions.
     About the time I went through the
"empty nest syndrome", I realized my affection for painting which filled the void when my children left home. Even though art had been my favorite subject in school, all I had basicly done was drawing or sketching with pencils, other than painting on ceramics back in the early 70's, but I didn't really start acrylic craft painting until around the year 1989. The lids of old wooden cheese boxes was a great place to start.  I painted dozens that first year and gave many away for Christmas gifts, etc.  I still have a few scattered here and there around the house.  When I ran out of cheese boxes, furniture came next, then I began oil painting on canvas around 1994 after having two good friends that painted for hobbies and were kind enough to give me a lesson each. After that, I went out and bought all kinds of oil painting books, many of which were books by Bob Ross.  And I also watched his TV Shows and any other art lessons on TV whenever I got the chance.
     When I started oil painting, I realized I had finally found something I loved to do more than anything else I'd ever done. 
     Then on my birthday of 1996 I met
a freelance faux finish artist who hired me to do faux finishes and murals and began teaching me how to do faux finishes.
   In 1998 I worked for a design company as a custom painted furniture artist, & faux finisher, but after a year
or so, I decided to start my own business & also work as a contract labor artist.
    In 2003 my first art pieces on canvas were displayed in an Artist Co-op  on Harwin, & in the ShowPlace Gallery on I-10, here in Houston.
     The ladies at the Show Place Gallery inspired me to paint larger paintings as I started small, but I'm taking their advice and expanding to larger canvas'.  I started by painting the inside of my garden fence just for fun, though it's not finished, but will be as the weather permits. It's not alot different than painting murals which I'm also very fond of painting. Especially children's room characters.
    Studied under Elizabeth Cencini at the Winter Street Artists Studios, then studied under Jeraine Reat at the Paint N Place, both in Houston, Texas.

     Though I haven't really
acquired my own " style", I enjoy painting most any and everything. From abstract to landscapes, realism to impressionism.  Subtle to "way- out- there-wild". Some might say I'm a "copy-cat artist" as I can copy most anything, but I had rather do my own originals when it comes to working either on guesso primed canvas or textured board; using oils or acrylics.  I love playing with color & contrast between lights & darks.  And I have come to enjoy doing people & animal portraits as well.  
     
Writing poems is another 'past-time hobby' of mine, but I don't write often and dont enjoy that as much as I do art.
     I'm also a licensed Shih Tzu Breeder and that's how I've come to enjoy painting pets.  I do however work from photos and not from real-life models as yet, but I have used real models for sketches, so who knows what will happen in the future?
   

My Family

My Husband,
Rickey, Pipeline Designer
     My oldest daughter Jennifer (middle);
lives in Dallas, TX. & currently designs jewelry as a hobby and works as an OR Assistant.

     My son, Jeremy; was serving in the U.S. Army,
stationed in Ft. Drum, N.Y. at the time of this picture. He now lives in Waco, Texas and works as an auto mechanic.
     And my youngest daughter, Amanda; (left),
also lives here in Houston, and is currently going
 to medical college .

 Jeremy helping me do a touch-up
while home on leave from the army.

Son, this picture is for you...
Click here to"remember when" while you are away in South Korea.
Jeremy & Genny
(Jeremy's 1st-wife/Katie's Mother)
Katie
Possum
Katherine Anne (Katie)....my grand-daughter.
But I call her "Possum"
Born to Jeremy & Genny March 4, 2001.
A page for Katie
Katie Loves to Swim
Katie
 Summer 2005
Devin Michael (Boo),....my grandson.
 Born July 26th,2004
10:36AM
6-lbs 3-oz
To Amanda Dawn
(He had just been born & on his way to nursery!) 
PeekABoo
"Peek A Boo" (Nic-Named him 'Boo')
Devin Michael June 2006
Devin Michael
(Boo)
 June 2006

Devin (Boo) riding his bike in our backyard after Hurricane Ike,  2008
(Boo)
Devin Michael 
(Amanda's son) &

Chelsea Renee
(Jeremy's youngest daughter)
Thanksgiving
2008
Chelsea
Chelsea Renee
Chelsea Renee
December 2005
Granddaughter
Chelsea Renee

born to Jeremy & Jennifer
November 15, 2005 at 8pm, 
In Waco, Texas and was
 2lbs-15oz 16"long.

Granddaughter
Gabriella Renee
Born July 26  2006
Smiles for Santa
Christmas 2008


Granddaughters
Alison left & Katie Right.
 Finger painting in my backyard during a Thanksgiving Holiday.
(They seem to enjoy art as much as I do too!)

Our Dogs
Sweetie
Chuie
Brindy


 My Friends
Many thanks to my friends
 &  colleagues for
 
"keeping me on my toes"
and 
"nudging me on"
.
Catherine & Kathleen


Jeremy's Link
Sydell's Poetry Section
Katie's Page

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