My first class was taught in my dad’s sign shop with students seated around a piece of 4 x 8’ plywood set on sawhorses. The table was covered of course, but there was no worry about spilling or splattering paint! I had always wanted to learn to paint, and after a discovering how friendly and teachable decorative painting is, I wanted to share. This lead me on a path I’ve never diverted from. Providing supplies was also important and I have owned two retail shops. My son stocked paint for me, and still knows what Delta Midnight Blue looks like. :-)
Year after year I was able to study with JoSonja Jansen, Helan Barrick, Heidi England, Michele Walton, and others when atttending conferences. After passing the CDA stroke category and teaching my first conference class in 1990, I taught at many other conferences and was published in painting magazines.
Since moving from California to Texas, my only classes are with the Wildflower club, providing more new friends. On Mondays I teach a free weekly one hour zoom class. I still enjoy learning and collaborating; it is an important part of our growth as artists. The friendships developed and fun I’ve had prove decorative painting to be a wonderful art form!
vallwardt@mac.com
Santa's Door Knocker - short video (49 secs.)
Blue Rose Basket - short video (1m)
