"Once an artist, always an artist" - or so I've heard. I began art stuff as a kid when I would try to draw (not trace) Snoopy and Charlie Brown from the comic strips. In school I attempted to expand my budding talents, but got a "C" in art class and gave up my art career for acting. Hollywood turned me down so I turned to computers and finally hit the spot.
I began with computers in the early 80's (remember CPM machines and WordStar?!). I continued on and began teaching businesses in 1985 then at Portland Community College. But the art bug just never left me. I'd dabble in art now and then, nothing serious, until 1995 when I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. After about a year I had to go on disability from work and suddenly had time to devote to artistic ventures.
I took my two main skills, wound them around each other, and began producing cards and prints from my artwork on the computer. Click on the buttons to the left and see what I accomplished. As of this writing it's 2013 and the MS has gotten to the point where I enjoy my paintings more than I create them (but then how many people have a houseful of original artwork - and I'm not rich in the monetary ways!)
In the meantime, I've lived in Oregon for 30+ years (I'm one of the strange few who loves the rain!). I was married on June 1, 2002 to the most wonderful man named Michael John Olsen. He was the Executive Director at Outreach Gospel Mission in Brookings, Oregon. Now he's a temporary pastor in Gold Beach and performs all the duties of a full-blown pastor, but is not Presbyterein as the "Little Church by the Sea" is. But he does the sermon every Sunday, and I love seeing and hearing him so I accompany him and also experience the 5hr drive from our home in Salem to Gold Beach (all in Oregon)! Not surprisingly, we may move soon!
I have two 36 year-old kids, Jessica & Justin, and Michael has 2 boys, AJ & Collin, 30 & 28 years old who live in New Mexico. Collin has a wife named Tracy, and we have 1 dog named Mady (a blonde Cocker Spaniel)(and bad combination I know. Sorry Tracy!)
Jessica lives in Glendale, CA with her boyfriend Mike, and works at Disney Studios in Burbank. Mike is a graphic artist and is doing marketing and graphics for cell phones at his job. Justin spent three years in Japan teaching English and doing sales (he does speak and write in Japanese now!) then working with a company owned by IBM after going to a private college in San Francisco and getting an MBA in 'green stuff' (like solar panels). His job includs marketing so he's all over again showing his parking project that cities would buy to find open parking places on the street. He also did an internship in Africa.
AJ lives in New Mexico and works as manager of a computer store, and Collin is A1C in the Air Force, stationed in Korea for a year (yes, he did do a stint in Afghanistan during the war and we prayed for his safety a lot (as we do today for all the kids!). He married a gal named Tracy shorty before leaving and Michael held the wedding service in New Mexico.
And the MS keeps worsening as MS does. I always let God lead me through my life, use my computer skills at home and keeping Michael and I above water financially(and I immensely love and enjoy being married to Michael!) We are now back living in Salem, Oregon.
That's it in a nutshell. I hope you enjoy the site and come back often!
Out our living room window in Brookings!
