For as long as I can remember art has been a part of my life.  When I was very young, I loved to draw and as I got a little older, I started to get interested in painting.  Starting at 13 years old I would spend an hour (or more) on Saturday's with my first instructor, Sister Vincent.  She charged me $1.00 per session for the first year, then zero charge for the next four years as she decided to become my mentor and friend.  I remember well her telling me, "You're making mud, Valerie" until I got a better handle on mixing and applying the paint with a softer touch.  

While painting with oils is my favorite and most comfortable medium, I also enjoy working with acrylics, mixed media and photography.

The combination of my activities; walking, camping, basically anything that involves being out in nature, and in particular around water, has allowed me to use my camera or paintings to try capturing the beauty that is all around us.

So often people are in such a hurry, they don’t realize or appreciate how blessed we are to live in the Northwest and other beautiful regions of the world.  I hope that my attempts at capturing just a little of this beauty will bring joy into someone’s life.