Greatly influenced early in life by her mother's creativity and her father's affection for nature, Darla McDowell earned a BFA in studio art from West Texas A&M University with a focus on painting and metal-smithing. As a form of artistic exploration and discipline, Darla began creating small daily, alla prima paintings in August of 2010. Her work represents the beauty she finds in the simplicity of everyday life. When not working in her studio, Darla enjoys spending time with her husband, Mark, and dachshund, Rodeo, on their family's working cattle ranch in the Texas panhandle. For further questions or comments, please feel free to email Darla at darla.mcdowell@gmail.com.