I always knew that I wanted to be an artist... someday.

According to my Mother, I grew up with a pencil in my hand – always drawing something. (And it was usually horses - I LOVED horses!) My parents encouraged me every step of the way. I even remember being introduced to their friends as "our little artist".

I married my high school sweetheart and together we had two boys. My husband Ron took over where my parents left off and became my biggest cheerleader! Slowly, between raising kids, milking cows (yep, we used to dairy farm!) and life in general, I began my art "career".

After we sold our cows, Ron converted a calf shed into my little studio. This is a wonderful space where I can simply look out into my little fence-lined courtyard and find inspiration. Every spring through fall, there are birds singing, bees buzzing and all kinds of critters running around. The tranquility of winter brings its own beauty.

It won’t take you long to notice that the subjects for my artwork revolve around nature. It's very satisfying to see something beautiful, then recreate it on paper... to capture a memory or a moment in time.

God has given me much to be thankful for. I have been blessed with the love of my family, three of the sweetest grandkids in the world (spoken like a true grandma!), wonderful opportunities and through it all, amazing support. I’ve been fortunate to work at what I love to do - and gain not only customers, but friends.

Well, I didn’t actually choose pastels.

In fact, I was never fond of the medium when I used them in high school art. Graphite pencils and charcoals were always my first choice. (I still love using them!) I enjoyed the fine details I could achieve by using a pencil... just sharpen to a point and away I would go! Using pastels felt awkward to me (not to mention MESSY!) and I wasn’t able to get that same degree of detail I desired. (I’m kind of a detail freak!)

Fast forward a few years.

When my boys were young, I was able to sneak in a bit of time between naps to create drawings for family and friends. One year for my birthday, my Mother-in-Law (who I adored and now greatly miss) bought me a beautiful set of pastels. She wanted to see what I could do in color. She had no idea how strongly I disliked the medium - and of course, I never did tell her! Instead, I was so grateful for her special gift I decided I better give it a shot and see what I could do.

The rest is history.

I ended up loving this medium. With lots of practice (and patience), I discovered how the velvety pigment of pastels worked so well for every subject I enjoyed painting. From soft feathers of a bird, the powdery texture of a butterfly wing – to an animal’s fur and the bold beautiful colors of a landscape. It took a little time for me to get here, but I’m grateful for the journey.

So, you see... pastels found me.

PS. It’s STILL a messy medium, but I’ve come to terms with it!

A pastel consists of pure powdered pigment and binder in a stick. It's basically the same pigment that is used in all art mediums. Pastels come in 4 forms: hard pastels, soft pastels, pastel pencils, and oil pastels. The hardness or softness of a pastel is determined by the amount of binder in the stick. Soft pastels have less binder and more pigment. They normally have a rounded shape. Hard pastels are usually rectangular and have more binder to keep the stick together. Each has different qualities and creates different effects. For example, soft pastels are easy to smudge and blend, whereas hard pastels are good for creating tight, precise details. Pastel pencils are pastels that are encased in wood, allowing for less mess and more control over details. They can be easily blended with regular hard or soft pastels. Oil pastels are great for creating painterly effects, but their wax binder means they're incompatible with other pastel types.

To make a pastel painting or drawing, it is essential that the surface have some degree of abrasion or toothy surface. The pastel particles can then rest on the paper, whereas smooth surfaces are too slick to accept pastel. Pastels can be blended with fingers, a blending stump, or a cloth. Unlike the process of painting, the colors are mixed directly on the paper, rather than on the palette. This is why blending is so important!

When handled correctly, pastels are permanent and can last just as long as any other medium. Pastels never crack, yellow or darken over time. When properly framed and securely hung, the particles will stay fixed in place for centuries.

Giclée printing (pronounced zhee-clay) is the art of accurately reproducing an original piece of artwork. The process uses pigment-based inks and high-resolution printers, resulting in archival prints of higher quality and value than standard offset lithography.

To qualify as a Giclée reproduction, it must meet three basic criteria. First, the image is digitally captured. This allows the image to be fine-tuned to closely match the original in color and depth. Second, Giclée means to spray on ink, so it must be printed on a high-resolution inkjet printer to create an image as precise as the original. Third, and most important for fine art, is image longevity and permanence. With proper media and inks, the reproduction can last from 100-200 years without noticeable fading or image depreciation.

Offset lithography is a printing method using printing presses. It is one of the most common ways of producing large volumes of high-quality prints. The term “offset” in offset printing refers to the indirect transfer of ink from plate to paper. The printers utilize the CMYK color model, which includes cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (K) inks. This printing technique produces sharp and detailed prints with vibrant colors due to its ability to accurately reproduce fine details.

Yes! I donate a minimum of 10% to a variety of charities with each print sale. These charities include Children’s Cancer Research Fund, Freedom Honor Flight, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Seasons 4 Hope, and Gundersen St. Elizabeth’s Hospital. Each of these charities have a very special meaning to me.