In the fall of 2001, Shirley Rico took eight art lessons in Charlotte, NC - encouraged and joined by her granddaughter. What and inspiration - since drawing stick figures and enjoying art in museums was her limit in the art world. By experimenting with oils and watercolors, Shirley found her niche in watercolors.

By studying the works of Manet, Mary Cassatt, Tarkay and Peter Max, Shirley has developed a unique style, using many layers of watercolors creating rich and vibrant colors. Many friends ask, "Are you sure this is not an oil?"

Creating her "Flower Pot Girls" has been great fun for Shirley. New ideas are forever flowing. In a watercolor for a young doctor friend, the Flower Pot Girl had bandaids and scissors flowing into a doctor's bag.

In 1998, Shirley retired from the Federal Government after 32 years. Her employment was varied and interesting. As an operations assistant at Andrews AFB, MD, she provided the support for the aircraft carrying the Heads of State visiting our President. For three years, Shirley was a Researcher for DIA at the American Embassy in London. While living in England, Shirley's travels included Europe, Russia and Israel. She studied and collected antiques and, of course, spent hours in the museums. Her favorite is the Wallace Museum in London. Lastly, she was a courtroom deputy with the US Bankruptcy Court. During this time, Shirley also served for six years as a comissioner with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Historic Landmarks Commission.

Shirley lives in a whimsical blue English cottage with whimsical English gardens on the shores of Lake Norman. Her art studio is always beckoning for just one more creations and one more dab of watercolor.

Mooresville, NC

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