2.Why did you choose your particular medium?

I think creating in oils just kind of happened, again, with the support of my parents. My Mom signed me up for oil painting classes in the next town over. It was a really big deal for me. I had to walk and take the train and I went by myself. It was really the first time I could do something like that alone. I took classes there for many years, until I went away to college, so oil paints and charcoal were what I was first exposed to and they are still the two mediums I  enjoy and use the most.

3.What do you consider your greatest achievement?

When you sent this question I had to think about the answer to this. There are lots of little actions and accomplishments in my life that I’m proud of. But when looking at the big picture I think my greatest achievement is that I’ve made the decisions and taken the paths that let me lead the life I wanted. I’ve taken lots of bad turns but always came out stronger on the other end. The best decisions I’ve made and the people I’ve chosen to surround myself with have brought me to a place where I am content and proud of who I am and what I’ve accomplished.

4.What awards have you won?

I’ve won awards in local shows but nothing big time. The award I have that I actually display is from my retail days. I worked as a District Manager for the Disney Stores. I was in the top five of the company for sales and payroll. The award is just so cool, Mickey Mouse on a pedestal with my name engraved below. I love that thing and I’m not even really a big Disney fan. But Mickey I like.

5.Do you have a funny story related to your work?

I like to paint parts of animals. Yeah, it’s kind of weird but it fascinates me. A friend of mine recently found the wings of a vulture intact on part of the skeleton. She brought it to me and it’s awesome! But it’s kind of stinky. For a week I was painting in my studio and I kept getting bit by these little gnats. I couldn’t figure out where they came from. I walked by the vulture wings in the other room one day, needless to say there they were. They are in a box now.

6.Are you working on something new?

I have two big goals right now. One is to create a consistent body of work to present to a gallery for a show. The other is to be awarded an artist residency at a National Park. I’ve just started applying and I know it will take long but you have to start somewhere. I’ve first applied to Denali National Park. Alaska is one of the only two states I have not visited.

http:barkingdogcreations.net