“The grant I received from Backyard Artist allowed me to purchase three very large canvases I used for an exhibition at the Water's Edge Gallery.  The series was based on three Idaho rivers.  I wanted to paint them on a large scale, challenging myself to bring attention to the dramatic topography of the canyons and gorges through which they run.  At that time I had just embarked on a full time art practice and had incurred several startup expenses in building my website, securing and equipping my first studio space.   The grant funding from Backyard Artists allowed me to enhance my skill set, expand my confidence and execute my most ideal vision for the exhibition rather than being forced to scale back due to lack of ability to afford the large canvases.”