I’m
a Florida girl and I’ve lived in Tennessee and now Virginia. I am married
to Mark and have three children. Education: St. Petersburg Junior College,
University of Florida, Santa Fe Community College, Central Virginia
Community College and Randolph- Macon Woman’s College. I coordinate the
Ygyrl Leaders Program for the YWCA of Central Virginia. My art training
began at CVCC and continued at Randolph Macon Woman's College. I have also
enjoyed classes at the Fine Arts Center and with local artists including
Christine Rooney. I will be taking a Workshop with Robert Handel this
Fall.
I began exhibiting my
works at the Lynchburg Fall Art Show in 2005. I also have shown my work at
the Rockbridge Regional Art Show the past two years and have shown my
works at the Lodge of the Fisherman and had two photos in “The Really Big
Shoe Show” at Riverviews Art Space in 2007. I am one of several artists who created an original floor quilt to hang in the Lynchburg City Market; mine titled Diversity in the Seven Hills. In addition Amanda Sandos and
I partnered as The
ARTiculates. We now show our
works in the home of friend and artist Gail Laurant.
I started out as a
crafter weaving baskets and creating objects for home or to wear from odds
and ends. It is only in the past 4 years that I have explored more formal
artistic expressions. The artistic process is a playground for me. I like trying
new things and figuring out what the medium will do and how far it will go.
My approach tends to be abstract, but is greatly influenced by the natural
world and human form. Bold colors and shapes may come from the smallest of
subjects or I may attempt to uncover the spirit within. Sculpture provides
me with another avenue of expression that seems to have no bounds. Photography
helps me catalog moments and provides the subjects once they’ve passed on
and recently has become another medium to work in. I also create jewelry
from old costume pieces, broken objects or recycled odds and ends keeping
them very low cost. My inspiration for it all comes from a variety of
artists, but my favorites are Elizabeth Murray, Matisse, Gauguin, Picasso,
Van Gogh, Degas and their contemporaries.
Awards include: 3rd
place pottery CVCC 2005; 1st and 3rd place watercolors and 2 honorable
mention photos at the Rockbridge Regional Art Show 2007; 2nd
place mixed media, 3rd place pastels and 3rd place
sculpture at the Rockbridge Regional Art Show 2008. While awards are
wonderful recognition by peers, it is the enjoyment of others viewing my
works, sometimes interacting with it and perhaps taking one home for their
own that really touches me and is a small part of my motivation to
continue.
