After raising two kids and working in Calgary as an exploration geologist for many years, Tammy retired and took up painting. It started with an “Arts Combo” class through the City of Calgary Recreation. Following that class she took “Acrylic Painting Basics”, also through the City of Calgary. Since those classes Tammy has been mostly self-taught using the internet and books. A few years ago she also joined a weekly painting group, and this year she joined CCPS.  Both of the groups help with technique, composition and motivation, and are also just a lot of fun. She particularly enjoys painting nature; especially rocks and birds. Tammy has had a passion for rocks all of her life and this is just another way to express her love of geology and nature: her geology pencil crayons were replaced by paintbrushes, acrylic paints and alcohol inks. As much as she loved her career, she finds this great fun too. Tammy usually paints from photographs taken while travelling, hiking, biking or cross-country skiing with her husband.

She doesn’t have a fancy painting studio – in fact when she and her husband had house renovations done a few years ago she just enlarged her laundry room and it is now a combination laundry/painting studio/filing/printer room. It is small and cozy but has a great window for natural light. Tammy also has a TV there, and while she paints, she enjoys catching up on old TV shows.