Artist BIO

Tricia served her community as a Registered Nurse and consultant in healthcare for many years. Through her nursing career, she became proficient in the development of educational curriculum and teaching in a myriad of programs, including quality, research and leadership training. While working full time in nursing, Tricia took many classes and workshops across the country to hone her representational art skills. These programs allowed her to build an award-winning skill set in wildlife realism art. She began teaching oil painting classes in the Tampa Bay area over 15 years ago. Leveraging her nursing career skills and her workshop/self-training in art she launched as a full-time artist in 2019, becoming a professional artist and art instructor.

Always working to grow and expand her skills, Tricia takes classes as often as possible in various techniques -including oil, acrylic and watercolor mediums. Her students encouraged her to teach using alla prima techniques. Given her student’s interest, Tricia invested in three years of oil training through the Bob Ross Inc® certification program in the wet-on-wet technique, achieving certification in all 3 Bob Ross® genres (wildlife, landscape and floral) by 2024. As an extension of her dedication to her student’s success, Tricia created an immersive experience for her students in her teaching studio. Classes are offered in the gallery for larger groups, but also in her studio where each student has their own "artists workstation." Students also have the benefit of a technology enabled experience, so every brush stroke demonstrated on the palette and canvas are visible on the large screen by all students.

Tricia believes in supporting art for all, including those who have limited access to the art making process. These students include children, veterans and the elderly. She often hosts classes for those who are physically and/or financially challenged, elderly who are infirmed and veterans who need a supportive and creative outlet. Tricia’s nursing background makes her uniquely qualified to support the diverse and underrepresented student of art.

As a conservationist, Tricia also works with the community to expand the impacts of wildlife art. As a guest speaker, she educates audiences on endangered wildlife in Florida and across the globe. Several years ago, with the support of a grant, she produced a youth art project that culminated in a youth art exhibit which displayed the works of the young participants who painted an array of endangered animals in Florida. Each participant also shared the history and methods to protect their endangered animal with the packed gallery of community visitors.

An award-winning artist, Tricia is represented by Studios@5663 in Pinellas Park, Gulf Coast Artists Alliance in St. Petersburg and the Suntan Art Gallery located in the warehouse district of St. Petersburg, Florida. Tricia is also proud to represent the Pinellas Park Art Society as their President.