Shirley Nootbaar, a third generation Californian, grew up in the southern part of the state and has lived in the East Bay since 1962. She earned her B.F.A. in illustration from California College of Arts and Crafts (now CCA) in 1981 and is presently a free-lance artist-illustrator.

Working in the watercolor medium, she has the unique skill of transforming ordinary scenes with lively technique and dramatic presentation, making her work more than just a reflection of the subject.

“I want my work to attract the viewer into not only enjoying the design and color that can be achieved with the medium, but also to set a stage, create a mood, tell a story, and stimulate the imagination. I would like the viewer to escape, and feel a unique and pleasurable experience."