Gay Bechtelheimer’s career includes art education, arts promotion and her personal practice as a visual artist.  She has taught students from every grade level, Elementary, Middle and Secondary school, Community College and studio classes at the South Arkansas Arts Center in El Dorado, AR.  She was an El Dorado Education Excellence Awards Finalist and was Teacher of the Year for the El Dorado School District in 2014.   She was appointed by Governor Mike Beebe to represent District 7 on the Arkansas Arts Council.  She served as Chair of the Council 2015-2017.  Her artwork has been featured in numerous exhibitions in Arkansas, and is found in both private and public collections.