Vel studied art at the University of Wisconsin – Stout and in Milwaukee at MATC, and has taken various art classes throughout her career. She started painting outdoor scenes and wildlife on canvas while she was in her twenties and raising her two children. Later in life she found painting wildlife on a “natural” canvas more exciting. The challenge of taking a beautiful piece of wood with all its charm, and painting wildlife in natural settings is very gratifying.
			Vel’s husband, Rod, uses a 10-step process to prepare the wood. He carefully selects trees that will yield interesting surfaces for Vel. Through a series of drying cycles, a great deal of sanding, bark cleaning, preservation and sealing, the product is ready for Vel’s creativity. The entire process takes over a year to complete.