Artist's Statement:

Growing up I remember doodling and drawing, mostly faces and flowers, and houses.  When my children were small we had very few art supplies other than coloring crayons and colored pencils.  I would draw profiles and faces of my own children and any neighbor child that would sit still long enough.
     When my family of four children were off to school, I longed to have some lessons in oil painting.  At the time we lived in the Auburn/Federal Way area. In the late 70's I located a beginning tole painting class.  While I loved tole painting, I soon wanted to learn to do landscapes and more.  I attended several workshops in the Seattle/Auburn area, among them were Dale Gehrman's landscapes and seascapes.  In 1979 I painted a picture of Mt.St.Helens and Spirit Lake.  I have always treasured that picture of what the mountain looked like before the volcano erupted in 1980.  To this day it remains hanging in our log cabin located on the South side of Mt. Saint Helens, above Swift dam.  While the men are out hunting for animals, I stay at the cabin keeping the fire going, cooking, baking and painting.  I love it.
     I was also singing in a choir, keeping up with children's activities, Bible study fellowship and working part time in hospital and doctor's offices.  In 1984 I moved back to the Portland area and went to work in the office of a plastic surgery clinic and 8 years later I worked at Providence hospital as a surgical secretary until I retired.  I had very little time to dream about painting, so I told myself..."When I retire........."
    Five years ago I found a painting class, taught by artist Joyce Erickson, from Battleground, WA.  She teaches us the skills and encourages us to find our passion.
     I enjoy painting from God's beautiful landscapes and seascapes and florals.  My daughter has encouraed me to do a book of portraits of my children and grandchildren, using watercolor pencils.  I completed a small album in 2008, but I overturned our truck and 4-wheeler on a dirt road in Arizona.  I escaped the burning inferno, but my pictures did not.  I can do the pictures again from updated pictures.

I have also made decorative greeting cards from my paintings which are available by contacting me by telephone or email.   360-695-8000, andyhound@netzer.net.