Much of the interest in Native American symbols and animal imagery found in Stobie’s work comes quite naturally. She grew up on an apple ranch near the Yakama Indian Reservation in Washington State. She attended school with the Yakamas, and worshipped at a Catholic Mission bordering the reservation. “Home away from home” was a small cabin in the nearby Cascade Mountains which Stobie used as an art studio. Her environment has played a major role in the subject matter of her work.

Since discovering rock art several years ago at a site near the Snake River, Stobie has researched petroglyphs extensively in the United States, Mexico and the British Isles. She has worked with researchers documenting newly discovered rock art sites in the southwest U.S.

Stobie’s work is displayed and available for sale in several galleries around the Pacific Northwest. Since 1997, Stobie has collaborated with Canoe Ridge Winery to produce labels for their special “Auction Series” wines. Also, in 2003, Stobie was chosen by the Blue Mountain Arts Alliance to be the featured artist at their annual fund raising dinner in Walla Walla. A bronze medallion of her work, “The Beast Within” was poured during the event and proceeds from the event used to promote art education throughout the region.

The medium used in Stobie’s work is pastel on handmade bark paper. The paper, which comes from Mexico, is made from indigenous tree bark and processed by an ancient method. The result is a primitive backdrop for a tribute to the earth’s many images.

Stobie received her degree in Art Education in 1976 from Eastern Washington University. She taught art in junior and senior high schools for 15 years and has lectured at seminars in Washington and Oregon. She is the mother of two grown children and a serious baseball fan. She lives in the Blue Mountains of southeast Washington, near Dayton.