My family has been in Montana for several generations.  My Norwegian great grandparents on my father’s side settled in the Great Falls area in Fairfield and Simms.  Dad was born in Choteau, Montana.  I have other relatives that continue to live in the Great Falls area.

I was born in Missoula, Montana and grew up in Bozeman.  I’ve been painting in Acrylics since the age of 18.  My work is influenced by my experiences on my father’s ranch near Bozeman, and my time spent camping, hiking and horseback riding in the woods and mountains of Montana.  I’ve also been to many rodeos, and for the last three years my rodeo artwork has been featured on the Three Forks rodeo poster.  

I earned a degree in education from Montana State University with a heavy emphasis in Art.  I had been an art major when attending MSU before marrying and moving away for a time.  When I returned to Montana and MSU, I went into education thinking I might teach art.  However, the pull to become a full-time artist was too strong.  I began my art career in the Artists’ Gallery at the Emerson Cultural Center, and from there I went on to sign with other galleries in Bozeman, Big Sky, Livingston, West Yellowstone and Whitefish.  I have also been in several art shows including the C.M. Russell Art Show (as an exhibitor) and more recently I was juried into Yellowstone Art Museum’s “Summer Fair”, the Livingston Depot Art Show, Madison Valley Arts Festival and Anaconda’s Copper Museum Art Festival (which unfortunately I had to decline due to a conflict with another obligation).  I am not currently in any galleries but may pursue that further down the road. 

In 2018, my husband passed away and I was overwhelmed with a lot to deal with and take care of.  I put my art away for some time so I could figure things out.  It took quite some time to get back on track again, but I am happy to report that I am painting again and looking forward to doing more shows, and perhaps approaching some galleries once again. 

I have also begun entering some online art competitions.  I have not been one to enter competitions before as I solely concentrated on painting and providing work to galleries and shows.  (Also, I am not the fastest painter in the West).  I just recently entered an international online competition and was surprised to win special recognition for my entry, “Grittin’ Teeth”.

My hope for the future is to continue building a body of work, focusing on the things I love – rodeo, Montana’s landscapes and wildlife.