Mono Art Bio
Artist Bio 2019
I am a self-taught painter from Seattle WA, Gen X era, and I would describe my art as outsider surrealism with a splash of dark pop style. Each piece is personal and has a story, although many are spontaneous abstract thoughts. I pull ideas from sketches or reference photographs collected from traveling. I stay true to creating oil paintings that are uniquely personal colorful dark designs.
I always remember drawing and listening to music as a child. My father had a huge record collection from rock, ambient, singing whales, and much more. I would pick out a record and listen closely, read the lyrics and study the album art work. That’s when he started calling me Mono, because I loved his stereo so much. So, I sign my work Mono.
I grew up drawing and watching family members making their art and it just stuck with me. My Great-Grandmother Jo Snider of Whidbey Is. WA was an oil painter who painted the sea, birds, flowers, still life, mountains, and garden scenes. She gave me lessons on how to use oils and we painted together. I was young then about 10. She took me to her local Greenbank art classes, many artists painted in those classes. Her artwork is in homes all over the Puget Sound. She was a huge influence for me.
At 19 I attended the School of Visual Concepts in Seattle for a short period, but long enough to really give me the art bug permanently. I had an oil class where we focused on figure drawing and then went into stretching our own canvas, gesso, and painted something abstract. To me that was the best thing I have ever done!
My Aunt Brenda and Uncle Bob Pepper are very talented illustrators living in Brooklyn, NY. They are very successful and their art was used in books, book covers, album covers, cards, games, magazines, etc. One famous game my uncle did was the artwork for the 1979 game Dark Tower. I always looked up to them and they wrote me letters encouraging me and gave me advice.
On Friday May 1st, I lost everything in a fire. The Rodney King Riots arrived in Seattle and my apartment was hit with a Molotov cocktail while I was at the Rock Candy watching the band Red Cross. Funny, because I ended up going to the Red Cross for help afterwards. I lived on Summit and John on Capitol Hill and worked in the salon below my apartment. I lost my home, my job and all my art work from childhood drawings to framed work. A local punk band called Sore Jackson did a benefit show for me at The Store Room and gave me the proceeds to help me get back on my feet.
Life has been busy. My husband (chef) and I own and operate a restaurant called Little Blue Joint, Sawmill Saloon, Airbnb, and small casino in Darby MT. My 2 sons are grown and both work at the restaurant. My studio is in the Rocky Mountains of SW Montana and I show my work at our café.
I am looking to go beyond painting as a hobby. I want to be involved in the art world and share my work.
Artist Bio 2019
I am a self-taught painter from Seattle WA, Gen X era, and I would describe my art as outsider surrealism with a splash of dark pop style. Each piece is personal and has a story, although many are spontaneous abstract thoughts. I pull ideas from sketches or reference photographs collected from traveling. I stay true to creating oil paintings that are uniquely personal colorful dark designs.
I always remember drawing and listening to music as a child. My father had a huge record collection from rock, ambient, singing whales, and much more. I would pick out a record and listen closely, read the lyrics and study the album art work. That’s when he started calling me Mono, because I loved his stereo so much. So, I sign my work Mono.
I grew up drawing and watching family members making their art and it just stuck with me. My Great-Grandmother Jo Snider of Whidbey Is. WA was an oil painter who painted the sea, birds, flowers, still life, mountains, and garden scenes. She gave me lessons on how to use oils and we painted together. I was young then about 10. She took me to her local Greenbank art classes, many artists painted in those classes. Her artwork is in homes all over the Puget Sound. She was a huge influence for me.
At 19 I attended the School of Visual Concepts in Seattle for a short period, but long enough to really give me the art bug permanently. I had an oil class where we focused on figure drawing and then went into stretching our own canvas, gesso, and painted something abstract. To me that was the best thing I have ever done!
My Aunt Brenda and Uncle Bob Pepper are very talented illustrators living in Brooklyn, NY. They are very successful and their art was used in books, book covers, album covers, cards, games, magazines, etc. One famous game my uncle did was the artwork for the 1979 game Dark Tower. I always looked up to them and they wrote me letters encouraging me and gave me advice.
On Friday May 1st, I lost everything in a fire. The Rodney King Riots arrived in Seattle and my apartment was hit with a Molotov cocktail while I was at the Rock Candy watching the band Red Cross. Funny, because I ended up going to the Red Cross for help afterwards. I lived on Summit and John on Capitol Hill and worked in the salon below my apartment. I lost my home, my job and all my art work from childhood drawings to framed work. A local punk band called Sore Jackson did a benefit show for me at The Store Room and gave me the proceeds to help me get back on my feet.
Life has been busy. My husband (chef) and I own and operate a restaurant called Little Blue Joint, Sawmill Saloon, Airbnb, and small casino in Darby MT. My 2 sons are grown and both work at the restaurant. My studio is in the Rocky Mountains of SW Montana and I show my work at our café.
I am looking to go beyond painting as a hobby. I want to be involved in the art world and share my work.
