Childhood
Dorothia was raised with her six siblings in the foothills west of Boulder, Colorado.
Inheriting her artistic parent's fascination with art, flowers and nature,
she was encouraged to pursue and refine her skills as an artist.
Her mother believed in raising "free range" children, and allowed complete freedom to explore
the mountain behind the house. The discovery of a raven sitting on a ledge one day, became
a profound lesson for her and her sister. Thinking the raven was sick, they climbed out on the
rock ledge to "save" it. They carried it down the mountain. After their father looked at the raven,
he realized that it was dying of old age. The rock ledge, he explained, was the place that the
raven had chosen to die. The raven died before they were able to bring it back.
The lesson to respect nature's way was instilled at an early age.

When Dorothia and her siblings were not roaming the mountain, they drew pictures,
painted, made jewelry, sculpted, produced puppet shows, practiced music. scripted
and acted out plays and made up imaginary games. Each Saturday was "project day"
Her mother valued creative endeavors more than housework. Instead of cleaning
Saturday mornings (like most kids), they made art projects. Her father, a professor
of museum studies, allowed use of his workshop filled with tools for jewelry making,
sculpting, wood working and engraving. One of the Rohner children's favorite thing
to do was visit the museum with their father at night. They would roam the dark, empty
museum hallways peering in at the diaramas and stuffed animals. Countless hours of discovery
were spent rummaging through his desk drawer for old coins, plastic molds of trilobites,
and various things only museum people know about.

This unusual childhood influenced Dorothia and her siblings to seek uniqueness, enjoy family,
appreciate art and respect nature.

Professional Organizations
Phi Beta Kappa
Guild of Natural Science Illustrators
Society of Childrens' Book Writers and Illustrators