Virginia, United States
I guess you could say I was born an artist! My intrinsic artistic abilities appeared around the age of 1½ years old when I began scribbling colorful imagery on my bedroom walls, later carving designs and cryptic messages on my parent’s fine furniture. Over the years, I have continued my artistic endeavors working as a monotype printmaker, painter, mixed media artist, and jewelry maker.

Saturday, May 26, 2007

49th Annual Sidewalk Art Show

Seems like forever since I have posted.
I am frantically making prints and cards for the huge show next weekend! It is the 49th Annual Sidewalk Art Show on the historic City Market. I have done this show for many years. I think I keep doing it mainly because I have a ringside seat to see some of the oddest things that happen at art shows. For example, last year, a huge horse drawn carriage stopped at the end of the street. A wedding procession got out and came walking sown the street with an animated photographer trailing them. It was a hoot. One just never knows...it is better than TV, that's for sure. And, if I am lucky, I will sell some art!




"Reflected Clouds" (c) monotype


"Reflected Sun" (c) monotype SOLD

"Western Mountains" (c) monotype SOLD

Wednesday, May 9, 2007

Young Art

I have a special place in my heart for the 'young at ART'. 'Bob', is an emerging new artist. His favorite past time is to get butt nekkid and slather paint on his body then roll on a freshly gessoed canvas! GO BOB! GO! I am the proud owner of one of his paintings. 'Bob' is my best friends child, so I am anxious to see him continue on with his creative spurts.


Kids breathe new life into just about anything. They say and do the dangdest things. I was amazed at some of the quotes from some aspiring artists. I trust you will be astounded as well. Here they are:


Quotes by Students:


"Make art. See art. Buy art." a first grader


“Art is the key to life” first grader


“It’s an art world after all!” first grader


"I love art. I not only love art, I live for art!" third grader


"I run the tundra of my dreams, I howl to the stars of my imagination. I fly on the breeze of my mind and I pour my soul into my pencil. I dream in color, and see the world through a rainbow."

Angela, 8th grade


"Art is what lets your mind explore." a sixth grader


"Art is like recess for the mind." a second grader



"Art is not just a mixture of color on canvas, but a feeling; a magical feeling the embracer creates and cherishes throughout life's journey." Harrison F., 5th Grade


"I might not like how my painting turns out, but I always love art." primary student

"My mind flies away when I do art." primary student


"Art and I are like best friends, like salt and pepper, or socks." primary student


"Just do Art with your heart." fourth grader


"I love art because I can impress myself." fourth grader


"Self esteem comes from being faced with a challenge, whatever it might be, and meeting it." 8th grader


Hope you find this as inspiring as I did!

Sunday, May 6, 2007

Spring Works

Thinking about spring already...and planting the garden.

"Lace" monotype (C)


"Sowing Seeds" monotype (C)

Books I Love

I was just thinking, if any of you are interested in reading (and you better be), I thought I would list a few of my art favorites.


My all time favorites are:

O'Keefe and Stieglitz:An American Romance by Benita Eisler

Intimate Memories: The Autobiography of Mabel Dodge Luhan by Lois Rudnick

The Landscape of Memory by Milton Meltzer



And a few others:

Notes for a Young Painter by Hiram Williams ISBN 0-13-624115-8

Homemade Esthetics: observations on art and taste by Clement Greenberg ISBN 0-19-512433-2

Meditations from the Mat by Rolf Gates and Katrina Kenison ISBN 0-385-72154-4

A Path with Heart by Jack Kornfield ISBN 0-553-37211-4

The Spirit of Abstract Exressionism by Elaine de Kooning ISBN 0-8076-1337-1

Fate of the Gesture by Carter RatcliffISBN 0-8133-3544-2

The Art Spirit by Robert HenriISBN 0-06-430138-9

Callings by Greg LeVoyISBN 0-609-80370-0

Actually, I would have to say I hoard books. I have them everywhere; under my bed, stuffed behind other books in bookcases, and stacked in my closet. I have a vast collection of photography and artist monolog books and all types of poetry books.

Here are a few quotes about books:

The books that help you most are those which make you think the most. The hardest way of learning is that of easy reading; but a great book that comes from a great thinker is a ship of thought, deep freighted with truth and beauty. Theodore Parker


Our house was a temple to The Book. We owned thousands, nay millions of books. They lined the walls, filled the cupboards, and turned the floor into a maze far more complex than Hampton Court's. Books ruled our lives. They were our demigods. Nick Bantock


Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed on and digested. Francis Bacon


The greatest gift is a passion for reading. It is cheap, it consoles, it distracts, it excites, it gives you the knowledge of the world and experience of a wide kind. It is a moral illumination. Elizabeth Hardwick