Someone asked me the other day about how I became an artist. I started my long career at about eight years old. I have always been an upland naturalist. I loved nature as a young child and spent much of my time out in the yard. I loved the birds, trees and animals of the wild. Art was a natural partner for that interest. All little girls love horses and dogs, so I started a horse club with the neighborhood kids. I had a swell collection of model horses and books about horses.

We drew and painted horses with pencil and watercolor paints. My parents had a closed on porch where we met once a week to hold our class. Eventually I turned it into my first small business by charging a quarter for the class.

I've always been an entrepreneur at heart and went on to have several small businesses by the time I was in high school. I was a neighborhood banker, art teacher and sold snacks out of my bedroom closet to the other kids.

Much to the dismay of my Daddy, I went to art college instead of law school. He always believed I would outgrow my passion for art and become more sensible, but it was not to be. I had lots of other jobs along the way to art success, and I never gave up. I knew this life was right for me.

Life is swell for country painters......