Artistic History & Training: I always loved
to draw and color as a child. My mother was artistic and did some toll painting, folk art crafts, and needle work so
I think I picked up my interest in dabling in arts and crafts from her. My father was skilled at technical drawing and
sketching as well. After realizing that I was not a piano virtuoso, my parents decided their money would be better spent on
art classes. Good decision!
I was fortunate to take art classes from a private teacher, Jeanne Faircloth, in Anniston, AL. She
converted her garage into an art studio complete with pottery wheel, kiln, and lots of room to work. The classes
focused on shading techniques, perspective, subject matter development, and mixing color. It was through Mrs. Faircloth
that I learned how to paint with the best acrylic paints on the market, Liquitex. I still use and highly recommend this
brand today. The classes were great fun and several of my friends school took lessons with her as well. One of
the highlights was a field trip to the Birmingham Art Museum to view a show of master works from the Renaissance. Thus
my love for Renaissance art began.
We moved to Little Rock, AR the middle of my freshman year and my art was a form of therapy that helped me adjust to
an abrupt change of life. My sophmore year I was fortunate enough to take an art class in school. It was during
this class that I was introduced to the wonderful Beril Prismacolor Pencils, the best colored pencils on the market.
The class focused mainly on drawing with both lead and colored pencil. The subject matter ran the gamut from shaded
circles to detailed drawings of people. I really developed my drawing skills from the class which still serve me well
today. There will be a few drawings posted from this class in the gallery. My sister is in possession of my first
colored pencil drawing which I hope to get posted in the gallery soon.
After Little Rock, we moved to Danville, CA where I was fortunate enough to enroll in another art class in school.
Again, my art was a very big part of my therapy as I adjusted to yet another school. It was something positive to focus
my negative energy on. The art program at San Ramon Valley High was amazing. We all had our own drafting
table, abundant supplies, we could listen to music in class, and the best part of all was the teacher (Carol Ashford) was
actually really cool. Her husband was the graphic designer for Bill Graham, the guy that promoted the Grateful Dead
concerts in the Bay area. Carol introduced the class to so many different medias, materials, painting &
drawing techniques. We were required to keep a daily sketch book, which I of course still have. Most of the sketches
are pretty basic but there are a few really cool ones in there. I'll post them some day. My junior year I received
an award called the Wolfie for excellence in art. The Wolfies were the school's achievement awards and they really made
a big deal about the ceremony.
My senior year I entered the AP Art program which was also taught by Carol Ashford. We had a great time in that
class and I made some really great friends from it. It was a lot of work putting together the portfolio for the AP credits
but it pushed me as an artists to explore many different kinds of media. I wound up getting 4 college credits out of
the program. Not bad. My senior year I entered a juried art show held by a Danville Artist's Society and won first
prize in the student division...the drawing was white teacup on purple paper...its missing now. I designed most of the
t-shirts for the swim team my senior year which was a lot of fun.
I decided not to pursue art in college much to the dismay of Carol Ashford. However, I don't regret the decision.
For me, I never liked the thought that at the college level someone could grade my art. I do art for the pure enjoyment
of it. To me it is therapy, something to do at the end of the day to help me unwind, to take my mind off of things,
to focus on the minute detail of the petal of a flower. I continue to challenge myself by branching out to different
media, styles, and techniques. However, at the end of the day, my two favorite methods are painting with acrylics (which
I learned to do in junior high) and drawing with colored pencils (which I learned my sophmore year). Maybe some day
I'll have enough time to take an art class but in the meantime, I'll just keep working on things as I have time and sharing
them with my family and friends.
