A native of New Hampshire, Tuininga began painting in watercolor 20 years ago.In 1996, she held her first solo show entitled the Windows of Penacook at the Penacook Library in Penacook, NH. Moving to Keene, NH in 2000, she attended Keene State College, pursued a BA in Graphic Design w/a minor in Art History. She studied w/painter Peter Roos & developed oil & cold wax technique for which she has become noted, thus opening the door to participation in various group shows at Thorne Sagendorph Gallery. Her move Binghamton, NY in 2003 would foster the greatest growth for the artist. She attended Graduate School at SUNY Binghamton, her involvement in the arts continued as she organized & participated in several art exhibits including Passionate Pursuits after Hours in conjunction w/The Family & Children’s Soc. 65th Annv Open House. She later exhibited at The Family & Children’s Soc. office, Nezuntoz, The Krebes Gallery, & at The KNOW Theatre, all in Binghamton. She also participated in a special event entitled The Stars Come Out at the Mad Hatter in Binghamton. She also exhibited her work at The Black Bear Winery in Chenango Bridge, NY. Her work was juried & accepted into the 2009 Rude & Bold Women exhibit, the 2010 WSKG Art in Motion Competition & the 2010 Ethnic Festival at the Jewish Community Center. She also had an exhibit at Java Joes in Binghamton in 2011. For the month of October 2011, she was one of the featured artists in the online art magazine http://www.imagine-revuedart.com/revuedart/8-voyages. She currently has an exhibit the Broome County Library until the 12th of May. Tuininga said that she thinks “painting is a healthy obsession.” Each piece “comes from my heart.” Evolving each & every time she lays paint upon the canvas, her work has many faces, often reflecting her interest in the blending of the Spanish & American Indian cultures.The technique for which she is most noted is a combination of oils & cold wax, which allows her to build up the surface of the canvas, giving it a rich textural appearance. “I find that people cannot resist touching my paintings. The texture of the paint, wax, & the swirls of vibrant color enliven the viewer’s spirit. The impressions left by the palette knife draw their eye & their mind into the heart of the painting.” She stated her ob<x>jectives are ba<x>sed on a simple principle, "I have had enough heartache in my life, so consequently, I want my work to bring joy into the lives of the people who see my paintings." “While I occasionally make political statements in my work, I am not usually about complex theories. I am simply about sharing the emotional “joie de vive.”She said that if she has accomplished this goal then it brings pleasure to her life as well.

Sculpted paintings working with oils and cold wax.