I was born and raised in Auckland, the largest city in New Zealand. My education was in the sciences that led to work as a laboratory technician. A desire to travel materialized with life cruising aboard a sailboat across the oceans. After 10 years of sailing I arrived in the U.S.A. where I met and married my husband Jon. We…
I was raised on a ranch east of Newell, one of six children. I went to college at SDSU and BHSU where I got an art degree in Art Education. I was fortunate to study with Dick DuBois at BHSU. I have taken many watercolor workshops throughout the years and learned techniques from all of them.
I retired in December, 1998, as microbiology lab supervisor after nearly 30 years at the State Health Laboratory, Pierre. I graduated with a B.S. in clinical laboratory technology in 1964 from SDSU. My only art experience was drawing sophomore biology plates; however, I have always been crafty and sewed clothes for myself, 2 sons, and husband, often creating my own…
“Art from the Heart” Gwen Ray grew up on a ranch on Lower Spring Creek. She and her husband currently live on Box Elder Creek east of Nemo, South Dakota. At an early age, she developed an appreciation for art and explored different mediums. There was something about transferring a scene with paint and brush that made her soul come…
After retiring, Nora and her husband moved to Rapid City. It was at that time Nora decided to pursue watercolor. She is now a workshop junkie, and has even traveled to France, Italy and Spain to attend workshops. Nora is currently taking classes with Nancy Ashley and previously studied under Richard DuBois. Nora is a Signature Member of NPWS and…
Nancy grew up on a ranch near Fairburn, South Dakota. She enjoyed drawing and creating art as a young person and pursued her artistic interests in high school and later at Chadron State College. She is a retired high school art teacher and now shares her love of painting by teaching adults watercolor. Nancy enjoys creating in a variety of…
Jackie Long has been doing something in art for most of her adult life. One of her works was accepted by Hallmark Cards. She created a number of art pieces using etched glass which were prominently displayed in two restaurants in Nebraska. She turned her focus to watercolor and mixed media in the last several years.
Sarah is a contemporary water media artist, and texture abstractionist. She loves and works in all mediums. Born and raised in Ohio, she eventually moved West and has lived in the beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota since 1986. Sarah has developed a unique style in her painting that has gained her two signature memberships in WYWS, and NPWS. Sarah…
Sherry Thurston’s enjoyment in all things creative provided a natural attraction to the art medium of watercolor. Some of the excitement of watercolor for her is when the paint and paper start to do some “creating” on their own. This relationship is something that feels exclusive to watercolor and will be found evident in the loose, organic style of her work. She spent…
Watercolor has been one of my favorite mediums for over 50 years, and continues to provide unique opportunities and challenges, as well as an invitation to explore new techniques. It also is extremely accessible, as I maintain a covered palette that is always ready to use, allowing me the ability to paint for any length of time without a lot of…
I was born and raised in Rapid City, where I still reside. I come from a large family with 10 siblings. I am the youngest girl, with four older sisters and six brothers. My husband Pat and I have four children ranging in age from 31 to 15 years old. We are almost empty nesters with one left at home. I spent…
I was born and raised in the Black Hills of South Dakota in Spearfish. That is where I spent long summers doing things that you can do for free or cheaply, like tubing down the glacial creek, walking to the library, reading in my treehouse of three planks of wood nailed in a black walnut tree, or going tent camping. …
My passion for art began at the early age of five when I took classes at the Des Moines Iowa art center. Although, when it came to my career, I followed in my Dad’s footsteps, choosing the more practical field of architecture. After 15 years of practice, I moved on to other art related vocations, including my own wedding photography…
Bill is a South Dakota native living near Deadwood, S.D. He has lived in the western part of the state since he was a second grader. It was then that he learned he could draw. While watching a fellow student sketching on paper, Bill was encouraged to do the same, with some success. Bill began to study art formally while…