Dee Relyea

My dad was a Naval officer and moved the family about every 18 months when he was assigned a new tour of duty. Having lived in a variety of states, climates, cultures, and landscapes as a kid, I was eager to explore new places as an adult. After completing my master’s degree in counseling psychology in Washington, DC and working a variety of unfulfilling jobs, I headed west to Colorado seeking adventure and mountains to ski. The natural beauty of the Rocky Mountains inspired me, and I became an avid photographer. I married and lived in Colorado for 20 years, where artwork centered on helping my children with school projects, scouting, and crafts. Our family moved to Madison, WI in the 1990s for my husband’s job.

Professionally, I have been a Career and Employment Counselor and launched a private coaching practice in 2003 while also teaching small business startup classes part-time at UW–Madison. A social “Paint Night” with friends in 2017 introduced me to the joy of acrylic painting. I fell in love with moving colors over canvas, took adult education classes, and studied with an online teacher during the pandemic. As a new artist, I was thrilled to be juried into the Madison Art Guild in 2023. I enjoy sharing my work through exhibitions, the internet, and other venues and continue to learn new techniques and hone my skills.