I first discovered my God-given talent when my parents moved my two sisters and myself from the “big city” to a horse ranch in Fulton Missouri. I remember my parents giving me an oil paint set for Christmas when I was 8 years old. I clearly remember the excitement of opening my first tube of oil paint and squeezing it onto my pallet. I will never forget the feel of the rich thick paints as I brushed it onto the canvas, and the smell of the paint as I worked. To this day, the smell of the oil paints when I walk into my studio is as pleasing and comforting as the smell of fresh baked oatmeal raisin cookies!

In school, my favorite classes were art, home economics and drama. I think that they were the only classes in which I received A’s. I have furthered my art education by attending several drawing and painting classes at William Woods University in Fulton, Mo. I took what I had learned and produced workshops for the public on an “Intro to Oil Painting.” I find I really enjoy teaching and helping others to learn how to paint their own pictures.

I have received numerous awards in local, regional and state competitions. My biggest honor, was to be chosen one of “Best of 50” for the Missouri State Fair Competition.

I do commissioned portraits in oil, murals, logo designs and signs. My style is realism. I tell my customers that I’m a “photo realist.” If they can get me a photo that is clear and I can see the detail of the eyes, then I can produce a live spirit in the painting. I can create that image onto my canvas. When I paint I am passing on the spirit of that object and recreating it on the canvas. When painting a portrait, I do the eyes first. If they don’t sparkle back at me, there is no reason to continue.

My family is made up of four boys and three grandchildren. (It’s great being a Grandma!). The boys have their own lives now and my husband, John, and I own and operate Kingdom of Callaway Vineyard and Studio from our family farm in Fulton, Missouri.