About Rosalie

People often tell me that once they've seen one of my paintings, they can recognize my work anywhere. They may not remember my name, but they remember the imagination, color, texture, and storytelling that makes each painting uniquely mine.

Art has been the center of my life for decades. My work has been exhibited in museums, university galleries, libraries, and galleries throughout the United States and internationally. I work in watercolor, oil, drawing, and printmaking, but no matter the medium, my goal is always the same—to create paintings that invite people to look a little longer, discover something unexpected, and perhaps smile along the way.

Inspiration comes from everywhere. A passing conversation, a memory, a walk through the woods, or an unusual story can become the beginning of a painting. One friend described seeing birds riding on the backs of sheep in a mountain valley. That simple image became the inspiration for my large watercolor A Bird on My Back. Moments like these remind me that extraordinary art often begins with ordinary life.

I grew up in Wisconsin's beautiful Kettle Moraine region, surrounded by forests, lakes, farms, and small towns. Those landscapes continue to influence my work today. I studied Fine Art and Art Education at Alverno College in Milwaukee and spent fourteen years teaching art before dedicating myself full-time to painting and exhibiting.

Although I enjoy working in many media, I am especially known for my layered watercolor paintings. Every sheet of paper has its own personality, influencing how the paint moves and how the image develops. I often build dozens of transparent layers, allowing color to glow from within. Prismacolor pencil marks, stitched borders, and mixed-media elements add texture, movement, and dimension, giving each painting its own distinctive character.

Throughout my career, I have been honored with numerous awards and exhibitions. One of the milestones came in 1986 when I was awarded Signature Membership in the National Watercolor Society. Since then, my paintings have been selected for many NWS exhibitions, including two prestigious international exhibitions held at the Shenzhen Museum in China. One of my paintings received an award and was featured by the exhibition curator in the official catalog.

My paintings can be found in corporate, public, and private collections across the United States. It is especially meaningful to know that many of them hang in hospitals and healthcare facilities. I truly believe that art has the power to comfort, inspire, and heal.

I also enjoy creating commissioned paintings. Every commission presents a new creative challenge and an opportunity to design something deeply personal for a specific place or person. It is always an honor to create artwork that becomes part of someone's home or public space.

Thank you for visiting my website and exploring my work. Every painting tells a story, and I hope you find one that speaks to you. Perhaps one of them is waiting to find its home with you.