Spotlight CAA Members: Meet Thea Jue

Born in small town Wyoming, where I spent my childhood playing on the open prairies, but eventually moved to California. I first discovered my love for art at Concord High School. After graduation, I continued to study art but eventually majored in Park and Recreation from San Jose State University.

I have two wonderful children, Nicole, and Matthew. While volunteering in their classes I turned to teaching. I taught for 24 years, the last 20 years at Tabernacle School. I had a lot of fun, and challenges too, while being an art teacher but I love being creative and teaching children to be creative with their own special gifts. 

 I have written and co-illustrated 3 children’s books: 1) Remember to Love; 2) Remember to Laugh and 3) Remember to Give. It was an interesting challenge going through the process of creating, printing, and publishing books. With each book I wanted to present a different message for children to learn and remember what is important in life.

 I have been blessed with two grandchildren that I have had the pleasure of caring for on a weekly basis. I have been happily married to my wonderful husband, who has supported all my artistic endeavors for the past 46 years. Together, we have traveled to England, Paris, New Zealand, a cruise down the Rhine River, and a few plane and train rides across the United States. With each trip, I was always on the lookout for my next landscape or the inspiration for my next painting.

 I started to be more involved with CAA and their activities and meetings. I was part of the pilot program of painting utility boxes where I painted a box with my good friend Renaye Johnson.  From that experience I volunteered to be on the team to help with getting more artists to paint utility boxes for Concord.  I have been selected to paint other boxes in the last two years. It is a real delight to drive around our town and see all the beautiful creations on these boxes. I continue to challenge myself with new projects from painting with different mediums to stained glass projects. I also enjoy participating in the different art shows that are sponsored through CAA.

 I enjoy our beautiful open spaces and hiking along the wandering creeks and the green or golden hills. I also enjoy gardening and appreciate all the fresh vegetables and fruit my garden produces. Each year I make jam from my apricot tree that continues to be so generous that I can share with friends and family.  I feel my life is overflowing with good times, good friends, and the amazing beauty of my surroundings.