Romona Youngquist’s path as an artist began in childhood, when her kindergarten teacher first recognized her gift during a drawing session. Growing up in rural Oklahoma, she found inspiration in the storm-filled skies, deep woods, and long walks with her chihuahua, Missy. These experiences grounded her love of the landscape, a subject she never strayed from.She taught herself by studying nature directly and turning often to the works of early American Impressionists. In her twenties she repeatedly checked out Richard Schmid’s landscape book, no matter where she moved, returning to it as a touchstone. By her thirties, she had discovered Montana painter Russell Chatham, whose influence left a lasting mark on her vision. Working in oil, Youngquist approaches each canvas through experimentation. Brushes are only part of her process, joined by tools that allow her to scrape, sand, and rebuild layers of paint. This rhythm of erasing and adding becomes a way of uncovering light and color. Though the process can feel like a battleground, the finished work reflects the quiet clarity she seeks in the landscape.Today, she lives with her husband Mark in the wine country hills of Oregon, surrounded by animals and endless inspiration. Flowers, vineyards, and rural scenes are just outside her door, offering the magic she loves to paint. Away from the studio, she finds joy in her kitchen, where cooking and baking are part of her daily rhythm. Long before sourdough became a trend, she was baking fresh loaves for her family, a tradition that continues to this day.