California Association of Porcelain Artists, Inc.

I started porcelain pouring, carving and painting in 1972 while working as a school secretary at a school for the mentally challenged. I taught ceramics for the students during their breaks. I started china painting during vacations with Eddie Hertweck. When I retired in 1977 I painted two or three days a week.

In 1978 at the Convention in Fresno, the Fresno club joined Dorothy Todd and started CAPA . I was the first CAPA Newsletter Editor for two years and have held many offices including President and Chairman of the Board. I have many friends in CAPA and am very pleased to be asked to be the CAPA Honored Artist for 2003.

I started teaching porcelain pouring and carving greenware and dolls in 1978 and china painting soon after that. Dorothy Todd and I attended the Jean Sadler school in Santa Barbara together. I continued going to all the school classes that Jean Sadler had. I attended Jerry Bolton's School for nine years.

I attended the Porcelain Artists of the Great Northwest (PAGN) School in Washington four years and did the firing for them. It is held by a club that runs the nonprofit school. It is held every other year and everyone helps if they can. It is held at the Lutheran School in Issaqua, WA. I've also attended many other schools.

I hosted Barbara Duncan, Jean Harper, Ann Cline, Celee Evans and Marjean in my studio many times. I joined Jean Harper at her Harper Valley Ranch many times and on the trip to Hawaii where I painted with Brenda Morgan. I have studied with Kay Godshalk, Sonie Ames, Helen Humes, Mary Ellen Hagerty, Alzora, Fannie Lee Sartain and many other teachers and enjoyed all of them.

China Painting, Fresno Porcelain Artists and CAPA have been good for me during my many health problems. I enjoy all the friends I have made and all the jobs I have done. My daughter, Betty Castro, has moved back to Fresno (only two blocks away) to help me and is learning to paint, she helps me in the club as well.