Doreen first became involved in the art world in 1974 when she signed up for adult art education classes at Chaffey College in Ontario, California. Her very talented teacher, Dee Cole, opened a new world to her. In the span of three years she learned Batik, off-loom weaving, fabric collage and slab pottery. Then her husband John’s work transferred them to Kentucky.
In Kentucky she taught Macramé for about a year and discovered that the ladies she taught were project workers who wanted step-by-step instructions. What seemed to be lacking was artistic initiative or the willingness to work outside the box.
After a year there, they were transferred to Iowa. Doreen became more seriously involved in teaching crafts. For nine years she had a very successful Christmas Bazaar in her home. She made fabric Santa’s, snowmen and other items. As a team she and John also made wood items.
In 1991 while her husband was in Desert Storm she took a class in reed basket weaving and used her teaching skills to teach the art to others. She belongs to two basket weaving guilds, and especially loves to teach basket weaving to people who think “I can’t do that!” Seeing their faces light –up when they would walk out with a beautiful finished basket was very rewarding.
Doreen and John moved to Mesquite in 2003 where she became acquainted with the Virgin Valley Artist Association at a sidewalk sale which was being held under the “shed” next to the gallery; that is where the class rooms are today. Having been acquainted with clay work, she took a class at the VVAA pottery studio on wheel throwing from Kathleen and Harlo Birkholz. Doreen has sold her work at the Mesquite Fine Arts Gallery, the Lost City Museum and the Great Mesquite Chili & Arts Festival. She is an active potter and can frequently be found at the VVAA pottery studio not only as an experienced potter but also as an on-site volunteer.
And if the name ‘Kinkade’ rings a bell, Doreen’s husband is a shirt-tail relative of the famous artist, Thomas Kinkade!
