A short synopsis of the path I have been on, following the creative spirit that loves to play in my life from time to time.

My parents were creative, my father supported the family for well over 25 years as an artist (burlap sculpture), and my mother loved doing community/dinner theater; however, I do not recall being highly encouraged to develop my own creative muse. Actually, I clearly remember my father asking me when I was 17 what I wanted to study at college. I excitedly told him I wanted to study to become an actor, an artist, a writer, a fashion designer, and an interior designer. He promptly told me that was stupid and those would not be my reasons for going to college. I should go to college to study computers. It didn’t seem to matter I would be the one paying for that college education. However, having no backbone in my younger years, I dutifully set my major for Business Administration with an emphasis in computers. (I was miserable!)

I snuck in the creative classes where I could. However, life threw some curve balls, which life has a way of doing many times. My sister was killed in a car accident and soon thereafter, I dropped out of college. I met my husband, got married, and did the marriage thing for seven years, and then another hard curve ball called divorce.

One year, after saving every penny I could, I headed off to New Zealand for a 22-day vacation. What an exhilarating experience! I returned home having a true sense that I was now the one in control of making choices for my life. That same year, I decided to take one of those adult night courses on the basics of painting (it was very basic). I was nervous because it was the first time I tried seriously painting anything. One day the instructor said he needed to talk to me in private. He said, “I want you to know you don’t paint pictures. You are an artist. You know how to paint with emotion.” Wow! Talk about a much-needed boost to my ego.

I consider myself self-taught. I was the typical artist, giving everything away because people asked for the paintings. I had enough people over the years tell me I needed to start selling my work as a professional artist. I am now on that path.

I call my art eclectic expressionism because I don’t like to stick to one style or subject matter. I am now working in a style that is extremely left field for me and it is turning out to be an invigorating adventure.

Someday, I may have the standard staid artist’s bio of awards and galleries; however, until that day, I will keep my self-taught artist status, expressing my spirit through my creative, eclectic expressions. I hope you will come along on the ride with me.

Contact Information: PO Box 691178, Charlotte, NC 28227 • 704-532-1461

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