Daughters, niece, and other relatives recognized her talent.
It took a lot of encouragement, arm-twisting, and the gift of a starter set to unlock the artist’s door.
It was only in the final two decades of her life (and not all of them) that she actively put brush to canvas. She painted life. Small town and rural scenes of the valleys and hills where she lived.
A set of farm buildings. Her flower garden. Work at harvest time. A still life. A street scene. A few fanciful scenes with a post card or magazine photo for inspiration.
Long after her death, the community honored her with an exhibit of her works. You see, she gave them all away — to relatives and friends.
The same town which inspired most of these paintings also inspired the Crystal Springs Romances.