MY JOURNAL: NOT-SO-FORMAL ART TRAINING

That's me with my three daughters in front of my acrylic painting of "Black Necked Stilts".

Between the years when I was in the Fine Arts Program at Eastern New Mexico University to the present day I have relied on continuing education. I have attended and participated in class offerings at Southern Oregon University where I took a painting class from Cliff Sowell -- and various workshops, seminars and studio classes to further my art education. Each class or workshop has helped me to grow and develop my own painting patterns.

Being an underpaid high school teacher's wife meant that there wasn't ever enough money in our budget to continue my formal art education and still provide for our three daughters. Classes were managed occasionally through the Medford Parks and Recreation program's offerings and through the Rogue Gallery. After I began work as the Staff Artist for the library system I was doing a variety of art projects that also helped me along with my self development project. That position lasted only two years. After that I became the children's librarian and did artwork along the with my other duties. That type of artwork lasted my entire 30 year history as a librarian and I have never stopped painting!

I participated in the Rogue Valley Art Association's activities and classes when I could afford the time and funds to do so. My first class was an oil painting class and I loved the experience of being in a studio setting with other artists! I looked for other opportunities that would propel me along my intended path. I attended pottery making classes through Parks and Recreation with Jack Teeters. I enjoyed his class so very much that I continued taking pottery classes for eight years! At the same time The Rogue Gallery offered a variety of class and workshop opportunities. I took as many as I could by budgeting time and funding! Some of those classes were: Watercolor painting with Judy Morris; Oil painting with Marilyn Briggs, Woodcut printmaking with Walt Padgham; Gouache Painting with Stephen Quillar; Collage with Gwen Stone; Printmaking with Nancy Jo Mullin; and a wonderful woodcut printmaking class with a Japanese master (A National Treasure Artist). Every one of these classes were taught by very talented and highly professional instructors. I feel so fortunate to have had those opportunities! I have experimented in many mediums - oil painting, acrylic painting, woodcut and linocut printmaking, monotype, serigraph printmaking, collage, woodcarving, pottery making, papier mache and clay sculpture. I spent one year of Saturdays studying with Lucy Warnick in her Studio doing monotypes. Lucy was a wonderful mentor! She gave me clear instruction and allowed me to experiment with that art form until I was quite successful. Nationally known watercolor Artist, Judy Morris, has taught me so much about the rules of painting! I have followed her to take several classes from her either in her studio or at The Rogue Gallery & Art Center or Art In The Mountains workshops in Bend. I took a watercolor workshop at that same location from Ron Ranson, at highly sought after painter from Great Britain. Ron also gave great and necessary instruction in composition, color harmony and painting from photographs. Color harmony, more than anything, is something I continue to work on. I love keeping the colors warm but not garish! I strive to keep the white when painting in transparent watercolor. Learning to have the patience necessary for glazing is something to strive towards! Recently I have taken up art journaling. After taking two week-long workshops in two consecutive years from Marti Peet of Jackson Hole, Wyoming. I have to still learn how to do journal writing but have done artist journal-keeping for many years. It is the discipline to write in the journal that I must work on regularly!