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 Although
I am a Texan by birth, family
connections, and education, my
Tennessee roots are strong; many of
my forebears arrived in the Lone
Star State after sojourns in the
Volunteer State. I was raised as an
Air Force "brat" and came to
Nashville after graduating from
college. I had intended to stay only
a year or two, but after raising two
children here, the roots have grown
deep. |
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I've
been involved in art since my
earliest memories; it was a way to
keep myself entertained. As a senior
in college, I regretted that I had
only minored in art. However, I
continued to study, and as my sons
grew more independent, I became more
deeply involved. I studied at
Watkins Institute and owe much
gratitude to Madeline Reed and
Wattana Wattanapun, instructors,
mentors, and fellow members of the
Nashville Artist Guild.
The turning point in my life as an
artist occurred when I acquired
studio space through a competition
sponsored by Metro Nashville Arts
Commission and VAAN, courtesy of
Barry Walker at Marathon Village.
Having a "room of my own", instead
of the dining room table, increased
my productivity and ability to
experiment with different
techniques. My studio has now moved
back home, to its own space, where I
spend as much time as possible,
ignoring housework with glee.
I enjoy working in a variety of
media, including acrylics, oils,
pastels, and various combinations. I
am inspired by nature, dreams,
music, and everyday experience,
which lend themselves to an alchemy
of interpretation. It's hard to
narrow down style or subject matter
to one or two phrases when there are
so many different inspirations and
ways of expressing them. My work can
be seen at Blakemore United
Methodist Church and Vanderbilt's
Psychological & Counseling Center in
Nashville, the James-Ben Gallery in
Greenville, TN or by appointment at
my home.
When I'm not painting, I am an
academic counselor and testing
coordinator at Vanderbilt
University. |