Geraldine’s real interest in art has been Art History which she studied at Dixie State College and Southern Utah University. Her senior paper was entitled  “Early Renaissance Architecture in Florence, Italy”. She researched this during two summers of travels in Europe. While there she visited major art museums in England, France, Italy, Spain, Holland, and Austria. In the United States she visited art museums in New York, Washington D.C., San Francisco and Los Angeles. In her studies she was required to take drawing and painting classes and studied under Gerald Olsen, Glen Anderson and Thomas Leek. Geraldine also loved her weaving classes with Hannah Wells where she discovered a real appreciation of textile arts. She did not feel skilled in these areas and concentrated on the research involved in Art History. The skills and experience she got from this research got her a job later with the Las Vegas/Clark County Library District as the librarian at the Mesquite Library where she worked for 27 years. When she retired in 2004  she finally had the time to return to her field of interest but from a different direction.

     Geraldine started painting again in 2005 and has never been happier. She thinks maybe it took 35 years for her talent to mature and she is gratified with what she is able to produce. The creativity of filling a blank canvas with a painting is so fulfilling that she paints nearly every day. Her studio is her kitchen because of the easy to clean surfaces and availability of water. “I wish the light were better but the view makes up for it.” Acrylics  are her choice of medium because they don’t smell and are quick to dry thus allowing her to rework her paintings. Upon entering her first painting in the 2005 Spring Salon at the Mesquite Fines Arts Gallery she received the first place ribbon in her medium. That encouragement has continued with more ribbons and sales of her work including a painting which is now hanging in Holland.

     Geraldine’s roots are very deeply sunk into the soil of Mesquite. Two sets of great-grand parents were among the early settlers and the sixth generation (her grandchildren) are growing up here. “I love to paint scenes from the area. I understand the quality of color and light here. It’s in my blood.” Some of her favorite subjects are local buildings that no longer exist,  including her grandparent’s house that was situated where the Casa Blanca parking lot is now.

     Travel has also been a big part of Geraldine’s life. After spending two weeks in Australia she came home with so many ideas for paintings that she credits that trip with part of her impetus to dig out her paints again. Recently she returned from a trip to Great Britain and is working on a series of paintings of the English countryside.

View Shauna's Art Showing at
350 Falcon Ridge Parkway Bldg. 300B.