A longtime lover of folk art, Missy has always appreciated rustic and quality handmade crafts. She was first introduced to painting at a decorative painting class in Bitburg, Germany during the mid 1980’s. In 1996, when she and husband Gerald were anticipating moving back to Albuquerque from Washington DC, her interests went back to her travels through Eastern Europe, encouraged by Bulgarian friends and old-country trained artists, to the ancient Iconic styles and techniques and that flowed into an appreciation for the primitive retablos here in New Mexico and the southwestern United States.
Later, the ancient illuminated manuscript, THE BOOK OF KELLS, connected with her Irish roots in the vivid colors and symbolism. She loved the intricate details and iconic quality in the primitive style of the drawings as well as the whimsy that made these illustrations so appealing.
Missy lives in Albuquerque with Gerald, who produces fine woodworking, provides her with blanks for painting, and interesting frames for much of her art. Whether making traditional New Mexican retablos, or decorated crosses, decorating wood furniture or even creating mosaics, she just enjoys the creative process and appreciates the interesting way that things turn out. In addition to collaborating with Gerald, her interests range widely—weekly hikes with two women’s hiking groups, serving on the Greater Albuquerque Recreational Trails Committee, supporting the Lady Lobos basketball team, very actively participating in the liturgy and environment of the Aquinas Newman Center, volunteering weekly for Habitat for Humanity, practicing yoga, crewing for a ballooning friend, decorating and renovation projects in their home, visiting their daughters’ families in eastern New Mexico and the bay area of California, and still finding time for world travel. Missy has never studied art formally but continues to be amazed at what she turns out and is delighted to use these spirit-filled gifts to the pleasure of others.
A number of her pieces hang in the Aquinas Newman Center on the University of New Mexico campus in Albuquerque.
