About the Artist
Although I had a very happy childhood, I struggled with shyness. When I began drawing, it often captured the attention of others. Art quickly became a way to open conversations, and find new friends. Around age eleven, I began copying battle scenes from paintings in history books. When squirming in my seat at church, my Mom gave me a pencil and pad to sketch the people around me. I also developed fantasy drawings as a way to cope with occasional nightmares. Whether it was loneliness, boredom, or fear, it seemed like art kept rescuing me as a child.
Now, as an adult, I enjoy the process of solving the problems that come with creating art. Seeing thoughts turn into reality is a reward in and of itself that keeps me coming back. What a privilege to create something so personal, while adding beauty to our world. Someone once said that having art in your home is a form of hospitality that invites others to come in. As an artist, I look at my work as a way to invite people into my life.
Most of my recent works are images taken from my imagination. I call them Dreamscapes and Other Musings. They have been instrumental in bringing me back to the joy of story telling through art. Using images that push beyond predictable boundaries, I hope to encourage my viewers to think about and feel something new.
I must say, creating art has been a love/hate relationship. It’s a balance of struggle and rewards. What motivates me to keep making new works? In part, it is because I don’t want my ideas to die with me. I want to leave something behind that others can continue to enjoy. As odd as it may sound, I feel like God gave me this inescapable desire. It seems that art has become like a faithful friend that constantly travels and adapts with me through my life’s journey.
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Full time illustrator/graphic designer 10 years
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4 years full time painter in landscape, still life, portraits
In Waxahachie, Texas, near Dallas
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8 years full time painter in murals, landscape, still life, portraits and live figure drawing, as well as volunteer consulting in architectural design, as well as multiple stage designs for local plays
Education; self-taught artist
Art residency
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2 year residency at Ellis County Art Association, Waxahachie, Texas
Teaching
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120 elementary students at Cornerstone Christian School, Waxahachie, Texas
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Private adult lessons, studio in Excelsior Springs
Solo exhibits through Arts KC/Now Showing
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Burns & McDonald / extended showing
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Henderson Engineers / extended showing
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Town Pavillion
Art Gallery Exhibit
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The Epstein Gallery, Overland Park, KS
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White Gallery, Dallas, TX
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Main Street Art Gallery, Excelsior Springs, MO
Juried Shows
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Bosque County Conservatory of Fine Art / painting purchased by one of the judges
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Ellis County Art Association Museum/ painting purchased by one of the judges
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Look Me In The Eye Portraits of Kansas City/
The Epstein Gallery
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KC Fringe Festival / Union Station
2nd year exhibiting was voted Best of Show
Public Art
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Mini-murals commissioned by Downtown Excelsior Partnership (see below in published articles)
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Over 40 large contemporary paintings in Pisgah Baptist Church, Excelsior Springs, Missouri
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Contemporary iconic oil portrait in Missouri State Capital, now in private collection of Missouri State Representative
Workshops
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Intuitive Painting Workshop with Stanka Kordic
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Painting workshop with David and M.Shawn Cornell,
(co-founders of Missouri Plein Air Painters Association)
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Tina Garrett, Portrait Society of America workshop
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Portrait painting workshop with Peggy Baumgaertner
Published Articles
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A Little Mystery, A Little Wonder: New Mini Murals.
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DEP Debuts Mini Murals Series by Artist Mark Walter
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The Epstein Gallery Portraits of Kansas City
Coffee Table Book for the 2019 Exhibit
Currently working on new series of paintings
(Dreamscapes and Visual Musings)
