Connie Watkins’ art career started with her first five-day art workshop in the fall of 1978. Upon entering the classroom she bought her first art supplies amidst the groans, “Oh, no, a new student”. But she did not hold anyone back. She knew for sure that week that she was an artist. Early in 1979 Connie signed up for a week long portrait art workshop. The teacher’s method of beginning a portrait was to use projection, but Connie prepared by drawing her subject onto the canvas and went to class ready to paint her first portrait. Her sister convinced Connie to send the framed portrait of Nancy Reagan to the White House. She did, and it is cataloged in the Reagan Library. Born in Memphis, but living most of her life in Paragould, Arkansas, Connie grew up picking cotton and strawberries, and otherwise being a hard worker. She graduated from high school in 1971 then from a junior college in 1972. When Connie needed a studio, she built one…with her own hands. She designed a unique structure which included a tool room, a root cellar, a tall north window and an open area for painting. Over a three year period she dug and moved dirt, sand and gravel, hauled, cut and installed lumber, bricks and plumbing, worked concrete, hung shingles, siding, insulation, and sheetrock. In 1990, Connie became a full-time artist. She was commissioned to paint the Railroad Heritage Mural in downtown Paragould. It is the largest mural in Arkansas, being 205’ x 25’. She received portrait commissions from travelers who visited her studio while in town to see the mural. Her prints of the mural and children’s prints have found homes in every state and as far away as Japan. Since painting the two-part Paragould Mural, Connie has painted many Biblical paintings for baptisteries and halls, and has painted in the mural cities of Lake Placid, Florida and York, Pennsylvania. She was chosen as the artist for the large ‘Country Fair Mural’ in Lake Placid and the ‘Four Chaplain’s Mural’ in York because of her portrait ability. While living in Lakeland, Florida she was commissioned to do restorative trompe l’ oeil at the historic Polk Theatre and similar type artwork and painting effects in several grand homes near Tampa. In addition to making art in a variety of mediums, Connie has taught children’s art classes for twenty years, has served on art boards and organized art competitions/exhibits and has given art presentations at local and regional civic organizations and schools. In 2001 Connie’s Art Gallery and Custom Framing opened in downtown Paragould where about 30 artists were represented. Connie conducted quarterly catered shows complete with an accomplished violinist. One year later she moved the gallery and frame shop to its present location where only her art is featured.