Although I didn’t start painting until mid-life, I was always blessed with a creative side. After following my military husband around the world and raising two beautiful children, I jumped both feet into my art career.

My childhood was spent in Wisconsin, although I now proudly call Florida my home. Many of my first works were in realism using the Old Masters technique. While living in New Mexico, I was a noted pet portrait artist and have animal portraiture proudly displayed throughout the United States.

In an attempt to loosen my technique, I began to create oil paintings exclusively with palette knives. My unique technique uses very heavy texture that creates “expressive impressionistic” paintings that have almost 3D attributes. Oil paints are my medium of choice as their natural pigmentation created an incomparable richness in my works.

My subject matter is diverse, but I primarily focus on nature. Landscapes, seascapes, flora, and birds are among my favorite subjects. When I paint, I feel an overwhelming connectivity between my subject and marvel at how the subtle interplay of light, color, and space balance one another. My greatest joy as an artist is to see how my works can create such intense emotion in those that view them.

We now permanently reside in Niceville, Florida, where I paint in my waterfront studio and am inspired by the natural wetlands of the Northern Gulf Coast. My work is shown at several art shows throughout the country and I am represented by the Studio Gallery in Grayton Beach, FL, and The Foster Gallery in Sandestin, FL Also, my originals can be viewed at my online gallery at Schumacherfineart.com. My unique style has been recognized by awards both locally and nationally and I have collectors throughout the country.