Sandy’s watercolor paintings capture a sense of serenity and peaceful contemplation, with the drama of rich color, texture, shadow and light.  Her scenes of California missions, mission benches, statuary and Spanish architecture remind viewers of less troubled times in a less complicated world.

Born in Southern Illinois, Sandy’s attraction to color began with her treasured Color Crayons and attempts to mix color by melting them down on her grandfather’s coal chute in the hot sun.  Love of color took precedence in all her art exploits, which were mainly self taught.

After moving to California in the mid 1980s and living in the high desert, Sandy realized the desert is a living art lesson.  Turning from acrylics to watercolor, she discovered a lifelong love of the medium.  In 1992 a Riverside art gallery offered Sandy a one-artist exhibit if she would complete twenty watercolors of the Mission Inn and other Riverside landmarks within six weeks.  This was an offer she could not refuse, and she acquired priceless experience in painting Riverside’s historical landmarks and “local color.”  Sandy also exhibited at the Laguna Beach Art-A-Fair Festival for eight summers, adding to her love of transparent watercolor.

Sandy continues to enhance her art by attending watercolor workshops, including Patricia Allen’s yearly “Paint Yosemite Workshop” hosted in the beautiful Yosemite Valley by signature watercolor artists such as Dale Laitinen, Stephen Quiller, George James, Donna Watson, Ted Nuttal, and John Salminen.