The viewer can experience with Audrey Spitzmiller's watercolors, the sounds of the ocean, its boats, birds, winds, smells, marinas, and people:Florals, carousel horses, fish and seascapes. From an early age, Audrey (Hartman) Spitzmiller had an interest in and talent for drawing and painting. Born in 1926, she grew up and married Alton (“Tootie”) Spitzmiller in 1945 in the small river town of New Richmond, Ohio. Even while raising five children and helping run the family business, she made time to paint, to be an artist. She worked in oils, acrylics and, most recently and very successfully, in watercolors. She created landscapes, seascapes, still lifes and portraits. She took instructions wherever she could find them, including from some famous and talented teachers. She painted indoors and out, with groups and alone, at home and abroad. While continuing to learn, Audrey was also a very capable teacher, with a knack of explaining difficult concepts to children and adults alike. She conducted classes for neighborhood youngsters; now in their 50s, they have happy memories of those sessions. To this day, she is a friendly "mentor" to one of her artist-neighbors. Always generous with her time and talent, she has donated paintings to many charitable causes. Last year, with just the hint of a request from her daughter, she painted not one, but two illustrations for the cover of a friend's novel--within one day! Although not competitive by nature, she entered many art shows and won a number of awards and accolades. As a member of various associations of artists, she participated in exhibits, and she was selected for many juried art shows and outdoor events. Since over the years, many of Audrey's paintings were sold or given as gifts, a retrospective of her work would be impossible to compile, but some are in this portfolio. Many of these remain her own or among family and friends, or are paintings of which photos were retained. Most were done during Audrey’s years in South Florida, where she relocated with her family in 1971. She now lives in Oakland Park, Florida.

Artist Highlights

• ArtWanted.com Gallery:    Fine Art