Gayle’s painting career covers more than thirty years. She says it’s unbelievable and she’s so thankful that she has been able to make a living with her passion to paint. Art was her minor, Home Economics Education her major in college. It was never in her wildest dreams that she imagined traveling across America and to different countries to teach a form of art. Gayle first encountered Rosemaling in 1977 when the family moved to Petersburg, Alaska. It was a Norwegian fishing settlement and there was Rosemaling painted on the store fronts. She had already been decorative painting, but was so taken by the rosemaling she started researching and teaching.

In 1980 Gayle became involved in clock making and now has over 30 styles, many made in more than one size. In addition to clocks she designs and makes unique objects for decorative painting. Gayle designed and built her wood products until 1998 at which time she tried to slow down and devote more time to design and painting. She now works with Paul Brooks who builds most of the products she designs, and many ideas and pieces they plan and work out together.

Gayle passed the MDA certification through the Society of Decorative Painters in 1980 and has been a judge for many years since that time. It’s a wonderful program to help people study, learn and achieve something very special. In 2000 Gayle received the Gold Medal in Rosemaling from Vesterheim after many years of working toward that goal.

Over the years Gayle has conducted seminars, local classes and written eight books. The last three Rosemaling books are especially important for new to advanced painters, as she has included a lot of the research she’s done to help others. She hopes to do a new one on European flowers some day when time allows. Between writing books, Gayle has been writing numerous packets, most are of Rosemaling or European flowers. Each includes photographs of one project, the written instructions and the line drawings.

In January 2008 Gayle has made a big change in her life. She’s left her home in Tillamook of 30 years and moved to Pleasant Hill, Oregon. Now she’s back to the home where she grew up, to take care of her 90-year-old mother. She is renovating the old chicken house on the small farm to make it into her new shop/studio. She plans to have everything organized by her July seminars.

2008 SDP Tampa Convention Exhibition

We had a good show in Tampa considering these economic times and it's location.  Because of the long distance to ship merchandise, we just had a single booth and took the newest items and packets. 

It's always a highlight to see friends, share ideas, and see new things. Lots of activities, classes and opportunities to learn and get one's creative juices flowing.  If you haven't been before it's the highlight of the year for decorative painters.  

The DAC (Decorative Arts Collection) outdid itself with a gorgeous publication of Santa's that were carved in Russia and sent to 50 artists. The variations and creative things artists did to these carvings are absolutely fantastic. They were all on display and will remain a part of their collection in Atlanta. If you cannot find this book in the store, contact SDP or the DAC. Hopefully many distributors will carry this book.