Vadie majored in Graphic Design - but found the career too stifiling for her creativity. "Although I enjoyed it, I found it too structured, specific and limiting." she recalled. "I wanted to be free of constraints, allowed to be spontaneous. I wanted my work to move forward on its own, and to lead me to its eventual destination." In 1979, Vadie returned to college to continue her study of fine art at St. Edwards University in Austin. "That's when I got into painting." she said. "I started painting and never stopped." Vadie continued further art studies at Glassel School of Art and the Art League of Houston.

She has shown her work in galleries from Texas to Turkey, Puerto Rico to Palm Desert and New Mexico to Ohio. Most notably she has been represented by CODA Galleries in California, A Muse Galleries in Columbus and Taos, Jack Meyer Gallery in Houston and Viota Galleria Arte in San Juan. while she works mainly in oil, the subjects of her paintings have varied over the years, starting out focused on portraits and more representational pieces. Her recent works are more abstract - an exploration of color and a more symbolic depiction of the human form.

"I always wanted my work to be contemplative and very painterly," she said. "I wanted my subject matters to communicate with my audience and to bring their emotion into it. I wanted to create works that made the viewer pause rather than just stare at it and move on. I wanted them to stay with the painting." Vadie hopes her paintings transport viewers to another place. "What I like to do with painting is to bring out motions, thoughts, to inspire the viewers. I want to show them what they may have inside and not know it. I want to awaken them to new dreams."