About the Artist

After a career of over 30 years in the medical field mostly in and around Chicago, Christel and her husband Tom retired to the small town of Mecca, Indiana, where they love to garden, cook together and explore the outdoors. Their dog Buddy and the once wild Kitty Mama are always close by at the homestead, along with an assortment of silly chickens and ducks, and whatever wild critters happen to appear. 

Christel began painting in 2017 simply as a means of self-discovery and fulfillment. Through the years her painting has evolved to include mostly Midwest landscapes, as she expresses in painting that which she holds in wonder while exploring the varied landscapes around her.  The color of the seasons, the play of light and shadow, the grandeur and the little things.

Her hope is for others to wander the dirt paths, visit the parks and wild places, connect with the land, and realize the importance of cherishing and caring for our natural environments. She experiences art and natural places as important parts of each person's vitality and health and an important facet to the health and vitality of her community and so remains involved with local and regional art opportunities, both as a participant and as a volunteer.

She has been juried into many group and solo exhibitions locally and regionally and was selected as a Hoosier Women Artist by the Indiana Arts Commission twice.  A grant by the state to paint outdoors and with visitors at Turkey Run State Park allowed her to bring awareness to the history and significance of the Indiana park system. Expanding in her roles in the art community, she was delighted to co-coordinate and curate the 2023 National Exhibition for Athens Arts Gallery in Crawfordsville, Indiana, and has also acted as judge for several local exhibitions since then.

Christel takes joy in knowing that a painting may speak to someone's soul, spark a wonderful memory, or just be a beautiful reflection of nature that she can share with any viewer and is honored each time one is selected by someone and taken home.

Click on "MORE INFO" under each image under "Works" to view her thoughts and inspiration for each piece.

Click on each event under the EVENTS heading to get more details on that event.

Select Recent Awards/Accomplishments:

2026

Second Place in Oil Painting, "Cathedral", Wabash Valley Art Guild Spring Show

"Looking at the Bright Side" juried into the 102nd Hoosier Salon Exhibition, Indiana State Museum, Indianapolis, IN

Alliance of the Swope Award of Distinction for "Pond Reflections" plein air oil painting, Wm T Turman Plein Air Competition; group show of winning pieces at Sheldon Swope Art Museum, Terre Haute, IN

Donations of artworks and art sales to:  Friends of Turkey Run & Shades State Parks;  Arts Illiana's Tablescapes Fundraiser in Terre Haute;  Donated oil painting "Turkey Run Canyon" to The Sheldon Swope Art Museum's Alliance Annual Fundraiser;  Donated proceeds from two sold paintings during "Paint Out at the Prairie" Plein Air Event to the Ouabache Land Conservancy

Judge for the Covered Bridge Art Gallery's "Paint Your County" exhibition, in Rockville, IN April 2026 and also their "Fall Open Show" in September 

2025 

First Place and Third Place in Oils in the local Wabash Valley Art Guild Spring Show, and Second Place in Watermedia.

First Place in Oils, an Honorary Mention and Artists Choice Awards at River City Art Associations Juried Fall Exhibition

Second Place at the Hoosier Salon's Good 'Ol Summertime Exhibit in New Harmony, IN

People's Choice for her Acrylic/Oil painting in collaboration with Michael Lundsford's Photography during Gaslight Art Colony's Side-by-Side Show in Marshall, IL

Donation of artworks to Arts Illiana's Tablescapes Fundraiser, Terre Haute, IN

Juror for the wonderful 2025 Small Art Show at Arts Illiana in Terre Haute Indiana; exhibited select landscapes and other works in "Nature Inspired" exhibition in the adjoining gallery. Always enjoying collaborations, she invited a local potter and jewelry artist to join her with their 3D nature inspired creations. 

2024

Ada Walter Shulz Award of Honor in the Sheldon Swope Art Museum's Plein Air Paint Out for oil painting "Prairie Creek in Vigo County" awarded by judge and artist Shawn Cornell. 

"Contrast of Fall Maples" juried into the prestigious Hoosier Salon's 100th Annual Exhibition at the Indiana State Museum.

Donation of artworks to Arts Illiana's Tablescapes fundraiser in Terre Haute and Friends of Turkey Run & Shades State Parks Fundraiser 

2023

Honored with the Bill Carls Grand Prize Award and Pi Kappa Alpha Purchase Prize at the Sheldon Swope Art Museum's 79th Annual Wabash Valley Juried Exhibition in Terre Haute, In. 

First Place in Oil Painting at Rockville's Covered Bridge Art Gallery's Fall Open Show

Merit Award and runner up People's Choice award at the Minnetrista Museum's Annual Juried Art Exhibit in Muncie, In. 

Awarded Best of Show from 2022-2024, along with other awards, at the Wabash Valley Art Guild's Spring Show. 

Donation of artwork to Friends of Turkey Run & Shades State Parks Fundraiser

Memberships: 

The American Impressionist Society

The National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society

The Wabash Valley Art Guild (Terre Haute, Indiana)

The Hoosier Salon (New Harmony, Indiana)

Collections:

Her works are included in many private collections, and also

Wabash Valley Community Foundation; Terre Haute, IN

Durham Home, Residence for Women; Crawfordsville, IN

Indiana State University's Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity; Terre Haute, IN

Riddell National Bank, Rockville, IN