I'm interested in the line between physical paint and the painted image. How paint applied to a canvas can look like anything we can think of, and why this paint stuff is such a good vehicle for creating the world. The very basic idea of painting, sure, but still such an exciting magic trick for me. I try to bring this mystery onto my canvas's. I paint from direct observation, in figurative or still life motives mostly. Developing my work over the last 20 years, or so, I have looked more and more into the old masters, and what they brought to painting. Attempting to recreate some of the techniques we seem to have lost. One thing this has led to is making the paint itself, some of these process's I've made short videos about.  My film, “Making Linseed oil, a process was featured on mentalfloss.com. I have exhibited around the country, including in 2023 showing at the Salmugundy Club in New York. Currently, my work can be seen at the New Zone Gallery in Eugene Oregon

Artistic growth, for Shirley, is the willingness to be open to all creative possibilities.  Capturing the Spirit, the essence, the heart of a moment in time, provides the images and words for her to connect with fellow human beings.  Her core creative belief is that Spirit guides the end result.

Current members of Studio Art Quilt Associates (SAQA) Oregon will present their recent, original works for the show FLUORESCENCE. As the title suggests, these works of art will explore all manner of materials and styles to suggest the sparkle and glow that exist because of fluorescence. This show will feature more than twenty new pieces and will be on view in the Klausmeier Room during the month of February.