As a child Greving began her formal training in art at the Sacred Heart Convent in Fargo, North Dakota.

 

Greving attended North Dakota State University in Fargo and majored in art. "I loved the figure drawing and composition courses. However, when it came to the painting classes the emphasis was on non-representational art in acrylics. My heart just wasn't in it. I loved realism. So I created my own major with an emphasis in art history. This would prove advantageous later when I studied classical realism."

 

The opportunity to study classical realism came when Greving and her family moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Jim Prohl, a student of Richard Lack, had a studio in Milwaukee. Greving studied with Mr. Prohl for three years, beginning with cast drawing and painting and advancing to still life and portrait.

 

The atelier system offers an artist the opportunity to study alongside the teacher. "I learned to use the ‘sight size' method which is an excellent way to train one's eye to see shapes. Jim was a great teacher who really pushed me. There were no short cuts. Everything had to be perfect. This standard has stayed with me to this day."

 

When Greving moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota she was accepted to the Atelier, the school founded by Richard Lack. She also attended workshops and seminars by nationally known artists.

 

"I was really experimenting during this time. The painting technique of the Classical Realism School did not suit me. I discovered the work of Carroll Jones, an artist from Stowe, Vermont. He used an egg tempura emulsion as part of his underpainting. I experimented with this technique extensively."

 

In 2002, Greving was introduced to Jeff Hurinenko, a St. Paul artist, who taught portraiture classes using the Flemish technique.

 

"The Flemish technique really suits my temperament. I love the entire process."

 

Greving has since moved on and now has her own studio where she paints dogs exclusively.

 

"I painted a portrait of my daughter holding her Yorkshire terrier. Later I did other portraits that included various dogs. Of everything I had ever done, painting dogs felt like the perfect fit."

 

Greving has been most inspired by drawing and painting dogs. She began studying the history of dogs as well as canine anatomy.

 

"There is a rich history of artists who have specialized in painting dogs, most of whom were classically trained artists like me. I share their passion for the subject matter. The challenges and possibilities are endless."

 

Greving maintains a studio in Mendota Heights, Minnesota. Until recently she has focused her efforts on commissioned portraits of dogs. Currently, she has begun a series of dog paintings called Classic Tails.

 

"Classic Tails really captures my journey in art," says Greving. "Various breeds of dogs are painted as subjects from some of history's most famous paintings. The paintings are beautiful yet humorous. I plan to offer new paintings in this series every year."

 

While Greving currently relies on the Flemish technique to obtain the richness and detail in her paintings, she is still experimenting.

 

"I have had to tweak a few things here and there to obtain the look of fur and whiskers. I would say my technique today is a combination of everything I have learned over the years. I do not adhere solely to any one discipline, and that is fine with me. That's what makes my art my own."