As an artist I am inspired almost every single day by the things I’ve surrounded myself with inside and outside of my home. I am inspired by people, my family, especially my children, my friends, as well as other artists. I love art history, especially paintings of and by women, often looking to those images for inspiration. My interest in colorful vintage advertisements, typography & printmaking is something I’m currently researching for ways to incorporate all three into painting or collage projects. And then there are times I just take whatever medium is at hand to do a quick project as the time I went to the river with my sister-in-law and her painter friends for the sole purpose of losing myself in the artistic process just to escape from the “real” world for a bit.
I often separate crafts from art when speaking about my work but as a high school art teacher I participated in a professional workshop conducted by a university art professor who suggested that crafts should be seriously considered alongside what we traditionally think of as fine art and I tend to agree with that position. For me, transitioning from fine art practices to crafting and back again just makes sense and often one informs the other in creating unique pieces. That line blurs even further for me with regard to fashion and jewelry design. My closest friends know that I have always been a fashion enthusiast. I went to a college that didn’t have classes in fashion design so with the help of a home economics professor and art professor, I devised an independent study in fashion design, creating numerous drawings by taking inspiration from fashions seen in early paintings & adapting them to modern wear. I even saw one of my designs come to life as my friend chose it for her wedding dress! The process of working with a seamstress to make the dress was invaluable. Even though I chose not to pursue a career in fashion, it did inform later projects in textiles such as batik, another “favorite” of mine.
My interest in jewelry design started very early on and continues with my recent interest in designing boho style aromatherapy necklaces inspired by my sister who wanted some variety in using her aromatherapy oils rather than just a few simple lava beads on a chain. As it has throughout my life, I’m sure my jewelry creations will continuously change based on styles and influences on me. Not long ago I was into designing bracelets with a clay medallion I created as their feature.
Crafting for me recently has included felting, weaving, macrame, bookmaking, repurposing furniture, stenciling and simulating mercury glass on old windows. I am constantly browsing pinterest and markets in my area that spark creativity. Who knows what will inspire me next?
While teaching and since retiring, I have instructed a variety of workshops with one major objective…to make each participant feel that they are walking away with a craft or piece of artwork that is uniquely their own rather than a variation of the same subject created by the group. For example in my coloring workshops, I ask each person to send me a personal photograph(s) prior to the event so that I may turn the photo into a coloring page to complete during the workshop where I begin with tips for blending colored pencils, layering color, etc. Then each artist chooses which techniques (whether those I’ve demonstrated or their own) to apply to their work.
Another popular workshop has been bleach painting on t-shirts and tank tops. This workshop grew out of my own experimentation with bleach painting henna designs, inspired by my sister-in-law and my daughter’s forays into henna art.
It was always my belief as a high school art teacher that students should select subject matter that is personally interesting because intrinsic motivation is the best incentive to immerse yourself in the artistic process. To support that notion, I have also worked with workshop hosts to create workshops uniquely designed for a specific group. An example is the glazed collage workshop I devised for the manager of a local hair salon who wanted a workshop for her new hairstylists that would reinforce the idea of mixing color based on color theory the women were learning at work in preparation for coloring hair. The theme was women’s styles of the 1940’s-’60’s using vintage magazine images applied to a canvas ground with glazed paints layered in colors of their choice.
I love creating unique workshops and will periodically post upcoming workshops I’ve developed for anyone to attend but I also welcome working with clients who want a workshop designed specifically for their work group, bachelorette party, wine club, or simply a group of their family and friends. Please contact me using the contact link above and let’s imagine the perfect creative workshop for your group!
Aside from creating in my studio, there are few things I enjoy more than browsing for antiques. Our Victorian farmhouse is the perfect setting to display my “finds” so I tend to indulge this passion! I look for vintage women’s magazines from the late 1800’s to the 1960’s with colorful advertisements, old books with well-loved covers and beautiful illustrations, print blocks used in early printmaking, vintage handbags & jewelry; in general, personal items owned by women and girls from the past whose stories I imagine simply based on their well-worn, well-loved treasures.
All of these things make me smile and provide further inspiration for art projects. The recent explosion of pop-up vintage markets in our area has also influenced me to sell vintage pieces myself. So don’t be surprised to see my Studio Reverie tent at one of these markets soon!
Photography is another passion which informs my work sometimes as inspiration for work in other media but often as an art form itself. I love straight photography, using the camera settings to capture the perfect shot but I also love experimental, creative photography, manipulating my photos through a variety of processes and media.
Check back periodically for workshops I will instruct or host and art shows or vintage markets I’ll be participating in.
