It’s been quite a journey and learning is indeed a process. It’s best not to rush it, especially in the arts. You don’t procrastinate but then again you don’t rush— you have a vision, you feel it, then conceptualize it on paper or canvass. You add to it, you tweak it and work on it until it feels and looks right, until it looks mine.   I’ve been blessed to have this innate artistic touch, that artsy vibe. But this is not to say that there was little learning to do, I do credit all who I have studied under for what I am able to achieve today. I just knew how to draw, it came naturally.  I believe the most essential art skill is drawing because drawing is the basis of all art. Most, if not all art will start with a drawing. If one is not a strong drawer, then one’s work isn’t off to a strong start.

I could have learned more if I started networking with other artists sooner. I thought to network with them meant you had to first be experienced and “gallery worthy.” I’ve found my female art tribe to be a sisterhood of sorts. It’s women empowering women, artists empowering artists.

I’m a nurse by profession but an artist at heart. I wanted to major in Fine Arts but my mother dissuaded me, worried about an artist’s income. Instead I completed a degree in Psychology and another in Nursing. When I stopped working and became an empty nester, I was able to pursue my passion. I enrolled at the local art institute, attended workshops lead by nationally known artists, and before I knew it, I was doing what I’ve always wanted to do. My husband kept telling me to sell my art but I saw this as a hobby. I wanted to paint and draw, not run a business. Friends would ask to buy my work and I would let them, many not accepting the “friends and family discount” I would extend. Between my husband and my friends, I received a lot of pressure to sell my work. They were not taking no for an answer. One friend set up my Instagram, another got me to join fairs, and yet another hounded me day in and day out to put myself out there. I work in most media, but right now I’m concentrating on two: charcoal and mixed media collage. I realize these are polar opposites, but I sometimes enjoy doing things in extreme. I have my charcoal drawings for those collectors with more conservative tastes and who like seeing the world in black and white (pun intended!) I use both compressed charcoal and willow sticks and will occasionally dabble with charcoal powder. On the other end of the spectrum, I have my colorful abstracts in mixed media. The type of paints, pencils, artisanal papers and other media may vary, but I have one constant: the stenciled prints that I very much enjoy making.

I’d like to think I’m pretty versatile in my art. I’ve learned to work in a variety of media, but what I am proud of is my ability to draw. As I’ve mentioned, drawing is the basis of most art. A good drawing makes for a good start and a good start sets you up for a good finish.

For me, the most rewarding aspect is being able to share one’s art with others. It’s a joy when a collector buys my art, it’s a greater joy when I see it displayed in their home. It’s also rewarding when I gift my art to others or when it is liked or complemented on social media. Whether it’s a commission or one I envisioned all by myself, my art remains deeply personal.  I feel a piece of myself is with it.  I’ve put my thoughts and emotions in it, and I’ve spoken from the heart to my audience. But what would truly be rewarding is to fulfill my goal of facilitating creative wellness classes and make that human connection through art.