My husband and I live in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin.  I have been a hairdresser there for over 40 years.  I was first introduced to rosemaling in the early 1960’s, when I studied with a local artist.

After our children were in school, I resumed painting, and attended rosemaling classes at the local technical school, and at the Vesterheim Norwegian Museum in Decorah, Iowa.  In time, I began winning ribbons at exhibits and in the year 2004, was honored to receive the Vesterheim Gold Medal in Rosemaling.

About a year ago, I discovered that my grandfather had played the violin.  Then I saw an article picturing a violin, having been painted by Lois Mueller, a fellow Gold Medalist.  This sparked my interest in painting a violin.  Its lyrical shape seems to flow with rosemaling.  I have enjoyed painting a number of them.

VIOLIN
This rosemaled violin is painted in the Vest Alger Style.  Rosemaling is a form of folk painting that evolved in the 1600’s in the rural isolated areas of Norway.  Vest Alger is located on the southeast coast of Norway.

The Agder style is mostly recognized by its floral-baroque design; using stylized flowers, some scrolls and many tear drops, which give a fern-like appearance.  My design is influenced by the painting of Gutorm Eftestol who painted in the late 1700’s and early 1800’s.  The “flame” in the design is typical of his style.

Rosemaling started to decline in the late 1800’s, but has experiences a revival in the United States since the early 1940’s.