Meet the Artist

 

Barbara VanDyke is a third generation Northwesterner from Olympia, WA. She graduated from Seattle University in 1965 with an art major, then spent two years teaching in Turkey with the Peace Corps. Her first pastel painting was exhibited in Izmir, Turkey. She returned to the Seattle area where she earned her Masters of Art degree. Barbara has had a long career teaching Art and English at Bellevue College, and private and public high schools. 
In 1986, the entire family spent a year in Shanghai China where Jim and Barbara taught at Shanghai International Studies University.

She returned to her teaching career until 1995 when she took a leave,  recognizing that "if not now, when?” She never looked back! The time to devote herself to art was at hand.  For 10 years she displayed at the Bellevue Art Fair and other such as the Park City Art Fair, and has shown at galleries in Seattle, Olympia, and LaConner Washington.  Her work has been collected  by art lovers both locally and throughout the USA, as well as abroad.  Her paintings are included in the archival collections of Seattle University,  Providence Corporation Headquarters, Washington State House offices, and hospital collections. Barbara is also an experienced art critique and  Judge.  She judged the Willamette Valley Lavender Festival, 2023, and the 3rd Annual Coastal Plein Air Art and Wine Festival 2024.

All of her work reflects her passion for history, world travel, and the natural world.   
She is married to Jim Shuman and they have three children and 5 wonderful grandchildren.