There are some paintings that come straight from my heart and then there are some that I paint so I can have a body of work for a show. Both types are enjoyable to paint, but the paintings which are a true extension of me, express a variety of emotions and experiences in my life. It is my intention that they evoke a similar feeling or a universal emotion in the viewer, at least I hope they do. If that happens, then a connection occurs between the viewer and the work of art. It moves them and they feel the emotion I am feeling as I paint. There are times when an artist has to explain to the viewer what is going on in his or her head when describing a painting. Usually there is a good story behind their pieces which can be fun to share.

Artist express their personal feelings and expose themselves, sometimes leaving us vulnerable as we show the world what is inside our hearts and inside our minds. We get to choose to be vulnerable and transparent or choose to keep our work a mystery. Painting is a growth process that is never completed as each piece is a building block, a learning opportunity for the next work.

There have been things in my life that I turned to the canvas for therapy. It is so exciting to work through an emotion that is so deep that it feels like it lives in the core of your being. I consider it such a privilege to be able to get those emotions out of me and onto a canvas where I can visualize the pain or the joy and feel it leave my body as I put the stokes of paint on the canvas! Such a wonderful release!

Are you sold, yet? Painting is AWESOME!

While in college as a studio artist, my teacher would critique the art work from the students during class. I remember one day in particular when my teacher pointed out that my body of work was recognizable as one artist’s work. It felt like a great accomplishment that he could pick out which paintings were mine.  It is a gift that great teachers have, a gift to inspire. From that day, I painted with a new confidence and started selling my work while I was still a student.

As a young child growing up, I would doodle on the white paper pads that my mother left by the phones in our house. She told me later that she would go around collecting the doodles. Knowing my sweet mother, she has them somewhere in her house!
I didn’t take any art classes until I was in Upper school at Lovett. I signed up for a drawing class and one of our assignments was to draw another student in the classroom. Barrett Howell was my model and as I drew his face, I realized how much I enjoyed drawing. It looked so much like him that it inspired me to pursue art. When I went to college, I met with my advisor and was asked what I wanted my major to be. I said, ” I don’t see myself working inside an office setting dressed every day, so I think I would like to major in Studio Art.” It seemed like the right fit for me. Luckily, it was, and I have been exploring and enjoying the path I have taken all of these years. It has also been ideal as a mother of three, as my hours are my own and my art did not take away from my first priority of being a parent who is present daily in our children’s lives.

Looking back, my love of color began in first grade. Mrs. Webb was my teacher at Garden Hills Elementary School in Atlanta, Georgia. I remember guessing the correct number, which was 7, in order to win a box of crayons.  During our classes, I remember observing how others around me colored. Some outlined their work while others colored using shading, going from dark at the edges to lighter towards the center. I started trying different ways to color and by the second grade, I drew and colored my teacher, Miss Collins, daily. Her long eyelashes and big earrings with her different hair dos really stood out and were fun for me to draw and color. I was beginning a lifetime of using art to express so much of what was bursting inside of me! Unfortunately, I also had trouble with raising my hand before speaking in class and I ended up spending many hours in the corner of her room holding books over my head as punishment. I was preparing my arms for many years of holding brushes up in the air for painting and didn’t even realize it!!

I welcome any feedback or comments. Thank you.