E. Lynette Fransen was born and raised in eastern South Dakota. Her mother died when she was young and her father raised their four children alone. Her flare for drawing and painting began in grade school. A teacher’s appreciation and encouragement set the stage for what was to come years down the road.

      Lynette has always enjoyed people, which has lead to her enthusiasm in painting portraits. Her passion for life, people, and relationships has been her inspiration. After her father’s death in 1992 with Alzheimer’s, she felt motivated to begin her publishing company-Ruth’s Images-as a tribute to her parents. Lynette is a self-taught artist and much of her work is taken from family photographs and reminds us of a special time in our lives. Her talent for drawing portraits of young and old in every day life has won the hearts of many. Her favorite mediums are pastel and acrylic.

      In the past years, however, Lynette’s work has gone to the dogs! She has received extensive recognition for her paintings of hunting dogs and her puppy series. Her ability to capture that special look of an animal friend has earned her awards such as: Wyoming Ducks Unlimited Artist of the Year, the Judges Award & Runner-Up People’s Choice Award at the M. S. Art Auction & Show, 2003 winner of the Purchase Award at the Rough Rider International Art Show in Williston, North Dakota; two honors in the Professional Pastel category at the Wind River Valley Art Show in Dubois, WY, first place in pastel at the Southeast Wyoming Art Show in Cheyenne, WY. In September of 2005, Lynette won 1st place in the Kaycee Challenge Art Contest. While placing in several categories, Lynette also picked up the Grand Prize in the Still-life Category at Deer Creek Days in Glenrock, WY in 2007.

      Most recently, Lynette was chosen to be the Featured Artist for the South Dakota Farmers Union Convention in Huron, South Dakota in 2008. She was also chosen as the Featured Artist for the 2007 Nile Stock Show & Rodeo in Billings, MT. In 2005, Lynette won second place in the Iowa Ducks Unlimited contest. Her painting was then chosen to be Iowa’s Ducks Unlimited National Print Series #1 and was included in their state package for 2005-2006. Lynette has also been included several times in the Wyoming Ducks Unlimited state package as well as Wisconsin’s state package. Additionally, Artisans, the exclusive clothier for Ducks Unlimited, has selected several paintings of Lynette’s for they’re clothing lines.

      Lynette is continually expanding her horizons. In addition to her note card line, “the Little Cowboy Series” and numerous other paintings of children, she has a wide variety of subject matter, from frogs, chickens and bunnies to florals and wildlife.

      Lynette is the mother of three grown sons: Dan, Brian and Riley. She resides in Casper, Wyoming with her husband Larry. She is active in her community and in supporting various charities. Lynette has worked extensively with the Central Wyoming Rescue Mission by providing original paintings for fundraising purposes. Her work can be seen on her web site www.ruthsimages.com.