As a child, whenever I could find a piece of paper and a pencil I was drawing. My older brother was taking an art course by mail and I would sneak into his room to look at the lessons and pictures. In the mid-sixties, I began taking oil painting classes from Alton Larson of Blair, NE. I studied with him for four years, exploring still-life, portraiture and plein air. Life took a different turn, and I went to college and became a registered nurse specializing in gerontology. I spent the last ten years of my nursing career as Administrator of Oak Haven Care Facility in Okoboji, Iowa. In 2004, I made the decision to retire so that I could spend the rest of my time on my life's passion - painting.

Over the years, I have taken a variety of painting classes and workshops where I studied with Dick Williams, Tatiana Ivaschenko, Gail Speckman, Anita Plucker, Betty Haight, Barb McGee, Diane Kunzler, Lynn Ferris, Doug Eckheart, Mark McGinnis , Hank Hall and Johan Thunberg, to name a few. I set a goal to take at least one painting class every three months as I also worked to expand my knowledge in health care. Although I consider myself basically a "learn as I go" artist, I think all artists are self-taught as they explore different mediums and arenas to find their own style. I am eternally grateful to all my teachers who have helped me on to unwrap and discover the artist within me.

I am a member of the juried organizations Artisans Road Trip and Iowa Artists, and have had my work accepted into the Community of Artists 2006 Exhibition at the Octagon Center for the Arts, Ames, IA and the juried show, Wanda Skogerboe Exhibition, 2007 and 2008. The Sanford Museum in Cherokee, IA has sponsored a "one-woman" show for my pieces in their gallery on two separate occasions, and I am privileged to have exhibited work at the Witter Gallery, Storm Lake, IA; the Nobles County Art Museum, Worthington, MN; the Wansink Gallery in Sheldon, IA and Arts on Grand, Spencer, IA.

Avis teaches watercolor classes at A Piece of Work, Inc. If you are interested in taking one of her classes please call the gallery.