As a kid in grade school in Rockford Illinois

I went to public school, and yet there were three electives for all kids. From Kindergarten to 6th grade, we all took music, French, and art. In 7th and 8th grades, we had to pick one. I picked French instead of art. Even so, students could enter art shows, so I did. I received an award for “Girl with a Flute”. I still have it. It’s a painting of black ink on newsprint.

When I was in college in Lake Forest Illinois

I took art classes from Ed Pasche if you can believe it! I remember how he taught basics like color and value. I once completed an assignment about direction using leaves and nails. It was weird, but now I do use direction in my work.

As an adult, I focused on being a mommy and paying the bills. Even so, art stayed with me when time allowed.


I took my daughter to Cape Cod every summer because we lived in a suburb of Boston.Both my daughter and I took classes at the Truro Castle Center for the arts. I took Woodblock and Monotype printing along with ceramics.

 
Now, I am a working Artist
Bit by bit, I have been venturing out with more art. In the beginning, I had exhibits at coffee shops, offices, and restaurants. I gave away a lot of art. Then, I added art leagues where members were guaranteed participation in exhibits. Next, I added art fairs, local and online galleries with worldwide exposure – and I started to sell my work to people who were neither my friends nor family. I sold art to collectors who liked my art!!! Now, I have sold works internationally and have been invited to show at exhibits in the US and Europe.

Exhibits
Art Crawl, Georgetown DE
Art League of Ocean City MD
Biafarin Exhibizone
Darley Arts Center in Claymont DE
Delaware Artist Collaboration
http://www.thewallbreakers.com
Gallery 107 Milford DE
Gallerium
Hummingbird and Dragonfly Art Gallery
Main Street Gallery Cambridge MD
Ocean City MD Main Library
OpinionWorks in Annapolis MD
Rehoboth Art League in Rehoboth Beach DE
St. Peter’s Annual Outdoor Show Lewes DE
The Himmelfarb Gallery in Laurel MD
The Main Street Gallery in Cambridge MD
Upper Crust, Georgetown, DE
Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission

ARTIST’S STATEMENT

I paint emotions so I can identify, welcome them, and have trust in them. I hope viewers of my work can recognize their emotions, too, and follow their guidance.

I grew up in domestic violence. The only way to survive was to become numb. So, I eliminated all of my feelings or at least refused to acknowledge them or be swayed by them. My goal was to remain unaffected by my environment.

I continued to deny my emotions as an adult. Many times, I noticed others scolding people who were getting emotional. That disdain for emotions solidified my decision to remain unemotional.

Years and years of squelching my emotions led to me feeling absolutely nothing at all. Bit by bit, the purpose of living disappeared. It seemed others around me were enjoying life and I couldn’t seem to do that. It was suggested I try talk therapy.

Thanks to talk therapy and medication, I have opened up to my emotions. Even if I now acknowledge my feelings, I don’t always know what they are. I paint to identify them. It seems that when I look at a portrait of a feeling, I can name it and experience it.

The more I identified and experienced my emotions, the more I trusted them. If fact, I recognized emotions as guides to a fulfilling life. I want to live now because I can both analyze and feel things.

I hope my expressions of feelings can help viewers identify, acknowledge, and use their emotions too. I want emotions to be valued and trusted instead of being a source of ridicule and shame. Intelligent people are emotional.