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About the Artist When Grace was a child growing up in Kerala, South India her missionary parents sought to encourage her love of painting. A young Indian artist came to the home and gave "Gem" lessons. He would divide a drawing page in half with his pencil and would rapidly draw ornate architectural shapes on one side and then tell her to reproduce the shapes on the opposing side of the line. He was not too encouraging in his comments to his young pupil with regard to her efforts. But Gem liked him a lot and was particularly happy when he painted a beautiful picture of a rose in her autograph book along with a sweet message. As a young girl she liked to paint scenes from Travancore, which is now called Kerela. She painted the coconut trees and the traditional boats that traveled the backwaters of that beautiful land. In her adult years in the United States Grace paid attention to raising three children while studying and teaching. Grace received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from Temple University and a Master of Arts degree in Sociology from the University of Pennsylvania. During the 1960's she completed course work in Sociology for a doctor's degree but did not complete the dissertation requirement. Grace taught Sociology at the University of Pennsylvania and at Beaver College in Pennsylvania. She also taught at George Mason University in Virginia. After about a ten-year career in teaching Grace decided to make a career change. She started a mail order business. Her husband, Charles, named the business Tom Thumb Workshops. The name signified the smallness and whimsical nature of the business. The products sold were herbs and spices and essential oils. Dried flowers, potpourri, crafting books and craft supplies were featured as well as many of Grace's "How-To" pamphlets and a newsletter. This endeavor that started in a very modest way grew into a profitable small business. After 25 years in the business Grace sold it to Mary and Evan Clements in 1999. Tom Thumb Workshops, under the ownership of the Clements, has evolved into an expanded craft business with a focus on framing and a wide variety of crafting supplies. It can be visited in Onancock, VA or on the web at: http://www.tomthumbworkshops.com With retirement Grace has at last found the time to indulge her fascination with painting. In the 1970's she took lessons in oil painting with an artist friend-Lois Staubs-who was also her neighbor in Chincoteague, VA. Lois had a wonderful gift of imparting enthusiasm and encouragement and Grace became enchanted with painting. Later in the 1990's Grace painted with John Hamburger in Chincoteague, VA. John was an inspiration. Grace loves to paint scenes from nature. Landscapes and seascapes, marshlands and mountains, waterfalls, forests and streams are some of the subjects that she has enjoyed painting. Grace particularly enjoys painting with oils but recently she has been fascinated with watercolor painting. Much thought goes into choosing the subject of her paintings. To Grace a painting should be a place you love to visit and enter because it brings you a sense of peacefulness or joy. In addition to painting Grace enjoys writing. She has written articles about gardens on the Eastern Shore of Virginia for a horticultural magazine. Recently she has focused on writing about artists who live and paint on the Eastern Shore. These articles can be seen in Delmarva Quarterly, a magazine that features local history, literature, art, music, photography, architecture, nature, theatre and poetry. Several years ago Grace joined the Eastern Shore Art League and found it to be a rewarding experience. The friendships and encouragement of other budding and experienced artists have enriched her life. Painting in the company of new friends at the monthly paint-ins has brought a new dimension of art appreciation into her life.  |
This web site and all of its content is owned by
Grace & Charles Wakefield, 2007
Email - ventures3@verizon.net