Contemplating hitting the 3/4 century milestone

For many years the focus of what I did with my art had everything to do with sales. I painted "to sell" as that seemed most important at the time.

That is no longer my main goal. For a very long time I've had the idea that I could possibly become a much better artist than I had been so far. I find myself envisioning possible paintings that surpass any I've painted up to this time.

What I've learned about myself is that entering competition is the one thing that motivates me to try much harder to do better art. Even so, my "best" is elusive, and I never seem to get there, but I love the challenge of trying!


Traveling the intricacies of the aging facial landscape with my brush and paints is helping me to become a better portrait artist. As you can see below, I do find painting the signs of age to be far more stimulating than smooth skin. However, I have done a series of paintings of young women in my "Women With Hats" section, under "Watercolors".

In all honesty, the real reason I'm so focused on this endeavor of doing better art has everything to do with "time".  As I'm getting older (as we all are, of course!) I'm finally, finally realizing I simply no longer have "forever" to reach my potential, whatever that may be. Does any artist ever feel they have accomplished this? I don't think so.

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NEW GICLEE PRINTS NOW AVAILABLE!

BASKET WEAVERS IN CONFERENCE

SIX ON A BENCH

MOTHER & CHILD (SET OF 3)

Please check the "Giclée Prints" Section of my site

"Feeling The Magic" won "Best Of Show", LAA Fall Member Show, 2016, and the "Painted Toe Society Award", Rocky Mountain National Watermedia Exhibition, 2015. Merit Award, International Watermedia Exhibition 2017.

"Thinking Man" (My Husband Ivan Was My Model) - This has won an award in the Southern Colorado Watercolor Society National Show 2014. But, more important to me, it won the "People's Choice" award! April, 2015 "Thinking Man" won the "Judge's Award" as well as "People's Choice Award" in the Louisville Artists Association Spring Member Show.

Nick (My Sister Jane's Husband) - Won "Juror's Award", LAA Fall Member Show, 2015 as well as sharing the People's Choice Award

"One More Wish" won Best Watercolor Award, LAA Fall Member Show, 2015

This painting of "Elsie" was an award winner in the Rocky Mountain National Watermedia Exhibition 2014. Elsie is 96 years old. Approximately 75 years ago, she and my mom became best friends. 1st PLACE, "INTERNATIONAL WATERMEDIA 2015 (Elsie passed away early November, 2015)

"Weighing The Options" won 1st Place and Best Of Show, 2013, Lafayette Senior Show.

"Missing Her"

"Facing The Challenge" won 3rd Place, Louisville Artists Association National Fine Arts Exhibition, 2011. That same year it was accepted in the Rocky Mountain National Watermedia Exhibition.

"Gladys" won 2nd Place, Colorado Watercolor Society State Show, 2010 ---- Best Of Show and "People's Choice" award, Louisville Artists Association Spring Member Show, 2013.

"Remembering" - Accepted in NWS International Exhibition, 2015, San Pedro, CA

"Helen" - Received the "Best Of Show" award, Gilpin County, CO, 2016

"Soliloquy" won a merchandise award 2008 in the 16th Annual Nat'l. Exhibition, Western CO Watercolor Society

"Looking Back" was accepted in the Rocky Mountain National Watermedia Exhibition, 2011. (This is a personal favorite of mine - however, I guess I'd have to say, these are all favorites!)

"Perennial Beauty" - This won 1st Place (2010) Artists Association of Northern Co. National Art Exhibition ($1,500 Cash Award) ----- Colorado Watercolor Society Annual State Show, Honorable Mention and "Peoples Choice" award -----PPWS International Watermedia XVII, Honorable Mention and "People's Choice" Award

"Yesterday's Beauty" in 2007 won 1st Place - Zonta Show (Artful Women) - ( Both my sisters and I agree that if our mom had lived to 100, she would have looked like this. She posed for me at age 90, and I used my "artistic license" to accentuate age, as I wasn't actually intent on painting a portrait of her)

"Interval "- This painting won "Best Of Show" 2008 in the "Zonta Show" (Artful Women) .... "Meininger Award", 2009 17th Annual National Exhibition, Western Co. Watercolor Society --- Honorable Mention 2009, Louisville Art Association National Fine Arts Exhibition. Both figures in this painting were accomplished using photos of my mom.

"Weatherworn And Windblown" won Honorable Mention, Louisville Artists Association National Fine Arts Exhibition.

"The Winter Years" won Best Of Show, 2008, Fremont Center For The Arts, Cañon City, CO - This was based on my mom. (I won this award 4 days after my mom passed away - I was unable to turn to face the audience while receiving my award)

"Resolute"

"Experience Revered" (This painting was accepted In The PPWS INTERNATIONAL 2013 EXHIBITION, held at the Pioneers Museum in Colorado Springs. The painting won an award.)

I painted this from a photo I took of a lady at the Fort Collins Senior Center, CO

"Once Upon A Time". This is a 2nd painting I did of Gladys, who was a good friend of mine.

"Timekeepers" - This painting won a 1st Place award in the LAA 2013 Fall Member Show. It was also accepted in the 2012 Rocky Mountain National Watermedia Exhibition.