About Amy

Wisconsin’s four seasons contribute to my continual inspiration through the heightened awareness of my five senses. In addition to observing breathtaking scenery and wildlife antics; the breezes, tastes, fragrant smells, and bird & animal calls awaken my deep down need to capture nature’s entire drama on canvas.

Once an idea for a painting is born, I do my own field work; hiking, sketching and collecting natural references such as leaves, moss, branches and stones. These are brought back to my studio, where I do several thumbnail sketches before selecting the best composition for a painting.

By combining, layering and glazing techniques with different brushstrokes, I create textures in my acrylic paintings that are very realistic. I combine warm and cool colors in a way that creates the painting’s mood.

Upon completion of a painting, my hope is that it will create an awareness of environmental conservation efforts in order to preserve the awesome beauty in our world. It gives me a great sense of satisfaction when one of my paintings reaches out to someone who needs it.

Mostly self-taught, I have been drawing since I was very young. My mother encouraged my skills by giving me gifts of art supplies for every birthday and Christmas. My father taught me tracking skills in the woods of Wisconsin. At the age of nine I drew in a sketchbook constantly – Snoopys and horses! I enjoyed taking art throughout high school, and then several college courses.

In 1997 after attending a Robert Bateman workshop in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, I had a sense of re-awakening. I was filled with renewed inspiration and confidence in my artistic abilities.

My creative drive and passion has been much stronger since attending several additional wildlife workshops with master artists including John Seerey-Lester, Paco Young, Terry Isaac and Carl Brenders. Hundreds of new ideas for future paintings come to me constantly. I am continuously composing paintings in my mind when I am not at my drawing table.

“I want to share with others the inspirational beauty and unexpected miracles found in nature that God has created for us.”