Journeys

Gold Coast - Australia

The Gold Coast is very special to me - my husband and I moved there right after getting married. We had a home built on the water. I’d always wanted to do art … so my husband told me I should just go ahead and pursue my dream.

I took private lessons from Max Muhlberger – an extremely accomplished artist from Germany – who sells his art worldwide. I studied with Max for over a year. He taught me so much about drawing, painting, and all the finer points of fine art.

Max Muhlberger

Steven Buntrock

I then attended the Southport Art School. I was under the instruction of Stephen Buntrock – a working artist himself. The school had many instructors, live classes with live models, and lot of interesting people to work with.

Denver

When I first moved to Denver, I joined the Art Student's League. It was a very exciting group to be involved with. I met so many people, including now best friends that I speak with often, even though I’m now in South Carolina.


I showed my art at the Denver Art Student's League – Summer Art Festival. Honestly, I didn't really care for that type of thing. I love to go there and shop and buy art from all of my favorite local artists, but as for me standing there in the heat – not so much fun!

During our 13 years in Denver, I traveled all over … up to Estes Park, through the mountains when the fall colors transformed the mountains. The fall trees turning fire bright yellows and oranges – TOTALLY AMAZING!

But it was a good experience.

I painted up a storm while in Denver – hired models for paintings – took them on different location photo shoots. Also worked with a lot of live models at the Art Students League.

Some of the amazing artists/instructors I worked under included Mitch Castor, Ron Hicks, Ken Valastro, and Evelyn Martinez – just to name a few.

Colorado - In the Rockies

During my time in Colorado – I also regularly attended the Logan Street Group – and we took some trips into the Rocky Mountains for painting and exhibitions.

I maintained a studio for 5 years in the art district – downtown Denver.

I was exposed to a lot of art and I entered a lot of juried in competitions.

On one weekend painting trip to Conifer in the mountains - with Evelyn Martinez - we found a location and by a river of a real fast growing river. I planted myself down the hill, right by the river, out-of-sight of everybody else.

I was just enjoying painting the scenery, and didn’t notice I was down stream from a storm water drain, and there had been a lot of rain.

Before I knew what was happening, I had water rushing and swirling around my feet. The river was beginning to surround me, and my easel and gear.

I had to pack up fast and high-tail it out of there! Scary...

Italy

Italy was a fabulously exciting – 3 week art trip – with a group of artists from the Denver Art Student's League.

We went to Umbria in central Italy – where the countryside is dotted with charming little villages. We stayed at a 14th century Montessori that had been changed into an art school. 

Honestly, I was in awe!! All the old ancient art paintings on the walls and ceilings of the duomos (churches) … which have lasted hundreds of years. The landscapes were awesome.

People would come there throughout the year to study art and tour the area. It was it a really great experience.

The locals were so friendly, and the culture is fantastic. The art is truly unbelievable.

Every day was a new excursion and new discoveries, as we visited hill towns all over the region. We would visit a new hill town – be amazed – make sketches and drawings … return to the school and work on new paintings.

Then have meals and wine together – watch a film about Italy – and start again at first sunlight.

The last four days of our trip, a group of us took the train to Rome, and we then played tourists – visiting The Vatican, the Sistine Chapel, Trovi Fountain, the Spanish Steps, and the Colloseum.

In Italy … everywhere you look is new inspiration for art!

South of France

Another trip with fellow students from the Denver Art Students League, was to the south of France.

We stayed in a chateau in Provence. Each day we’d venture out, drive and walk around, see the vineyards, tour towns and small cities, and the wonderful countryside.

Provence, France – being home at times to Cézanne, Picasso and Van Gogh.

Each day in a new town or village – we’d setup and do plein-air painting. The locals would walk by and give us a nod if they liked our paintings!

We also visited many different galleries, tosee work from the local artists.

India

Was able to visit India – thanks to a trip my husband took with one of his clients. They were visiting an orphanage in central India that they financially supported.

Since we were staying at the orphanage – home to over 100 children – I took along all kinds of art supplies, crayons, color books, colored pencils, watercolors and more.

The children were so happy and it was just thrilling for me to see their excitement and their appreciation for everything. Their excitement also inspired me!

We first arrived in Chennai – a city of almost 9 million people on the east cost. From there, we took a 14 hour overnight trip to the north, on a very old, crickety train. And then a mini-bus trip further into the heartland, to a town called Palakollu.

We stayed there for 8 days, did all kinds of fun activities with the children. We also went into the little town and toured around the area. It was quite a life experience, that's for sure.

Just to see how much the people appreciated everything that everyone was doing for them. So you come home with a whole new perspective.

The clothes and fabrics used in India are really quite amazing! Beautiful and extremely colorful. I bought a whole bunch of beautiful fabrics, (they make all the clothes for the children at the orphanage), and brought them back home. I've actually used the fabrics in some of my paintings.

Every time I look at the fabrics I think of our beautiful trip to India – a whole different culture.

Paris

Paris was simply breathtaking. Such beauty and history!

We visted the Louvre Museum, checking out the Mona Lisa. However, Muséeo d’Orsay was my very favorite.

We took a ride to the top of the Eiffel Tower, and boat ride along the Seine.

The Notre-Dame Cathédrale was breathtaking … there’s that word again!

Everything was amazingly breathtaking!

I've got to get back to Paris...

It was wonderful to watch all of the sidewalk artists. Some of them had spray cans and could whip out beautiful art, right before our eyes in a matter of minutes.

Sitting at the outdoor cafes, having drinks, watching the people go by – made you think of the the old masters and people during the Renaissance …


Paris was incredibly inspiring – it just made you want to go home and do some painting, create some art!

Spain

We traveled to Spain on about four different occasions on business, and while there, we visited different art galleries and toured around the place.

In Marbella – millionaires and multi-millionaires kept their beautiful yachts in port. I took so many photographs that inspired paintings when I got home.

One truly amazing place we visited was Ronda – you can see from the photo that the city goes right up to the cliff’s edge … WOW!

While we were in Spain, we also drove to Gibraltar (which borders Spain, on the Mediterranean.)

They have a whole area that just has monkeys running wild and through the trees. You can also see Morocco from the lookout – across the water.

Our first stop was in Malaga, home of Pablo Picasso. We attended a gathering at an authentic Spanish Villa where they prepared fabulous meals for us, and put on a performance with Spanish dancers.

We laid out by the beach and Kelvin had me do a bit of modeling and out of that I came home and did a self portrait of myself enjoying the sunshine on the Mediterranean!

New York

We went to New York on several occasions and always went to all the galleries.

We visited the Guggenheim, MoMA – which is Museum of Modern Art – and also some smaller galleries.

New York is an exciting city – I love taking photos of people in action, going about their daily lives. I’ve turned many of these into paintings.

One of my favorite artists I saw in New York, was Edward Hopper. I love the way he paints with the space, thoughts, and contemplations.

I’ve done a couple studies of Edward Hopper paintings.

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