May 2007: Infusion Campus "ME-tamorphosis" Workshop

On Friday, May 25, I led a workshop at the Infusion Campus in Springfield, Ohio (http://www.artsinterface.org/infusioncampus.html). About 16 youth from 1st-7th grade attended to participate in a "ME-tamorphosis" project. The kids each created a piece of art in which they began with a self-portrait that they then transformed into something new, like an animal, plant, or object. Above is the example that I showed the kids to give them the general idea (it's a piece I created back in high school). They also used a hand-out (taken from http://www.sanford-artedventures.com/create/tech_proportion.html) to help them learn about the proportions of the face. In the end, each participant created a unique piece, and the kids seemed to have a good time - and so did I.

April 2007: Un Mundo Cafe and Upcoming June Show!

Got paints? Un Mundo Cafe (http://www.unmundocafe.com), located at 801 W. Main Street in Springfield, OH, recently invited artists, students, and anyone interested, to join in an afternoon of painting, in an effort to liven up the decor of the relatively new cafe in town. I joined in and added my touch by painting a shelf, seen in the picture with me above. Additionally, each month, the cafe features the artwork of a local artist, and I will have my artwork on display there for the month of June. If you'll be in the area at all during June, be sure to check it out!
P.S. On another note, I've added quite a few new photos to the photography area recently, so if you haven't looked at that area in a while, go ahead and take a peak!

April 2007: Happy Spring!

I hope that everyone had a very Happy Easter and that you're enjoying Spring, despite some of the un-Springlike weather we've had lately (at least here in the midwest). Be sure to keep checking back regularly to see more new art and updates. And don't forget - if you have a picture or idea in mind that you don't find here, I would be more than happy to do a personalized piece for you. Just send your thoughts and/or pictures my way, and I'll get started! Thanks for stopping by. And, as always, if you have any questions, thoughts, or suggestions, your comments are always welcome.

February 2007: Updates to the Website and Exciting New Things in Store

My website recently underwent a number of updates, including, most significantly, the creation of this "News and Updates" section. With the addition of this section, I will be able to keep visitors current with what's happening with my art and what to expect next. Be sure to check back here often to see what's new. In the meantime, you can expect more updates and more art to be coming soon!

Winter 2006-2007: "Batik" Finds a New Home

"Batik," another piece from my Senegal series recently found a new home - in Michigan. Here you can see the work hung in its new surroundings.

Fall 2006: "Faces, Places, and Personalities" Solo Art Show

On September 1, 2006, my first solo art show, entitled "Faces, Places, and Personalities," opened at Arts Interface in Springfield, Ohio. Pictured here is me and my husband Mike at the show, in front of some of my work. The show included 13 original pieces, 11 of which were making their first public debut. The show kicked off with a casual opening reception and ran through the end of October, attracting viewers and garnering positive feedback - and even gaining a mention in the Springfield News-Sun newspaper. Furthermore, the venue decided to purchase "Les Yeux Du Bebe" as an addition to their permanent collection.

I included the following artist statement with the show:

"FACES, PLACES, AND PERSONALITIES"

WHAT CAN YOU KNOW ABOUT A SUBJECT FROM A PEICE OF ART? WHAT'S THE POINT OF ART? AND IS IT EVEN VALUABLE? ONE COULD ARGUE THAT ART IS TRIVIAL, POINTLESS EVEN. BUT SOMEONE ONCE SAID THAT "ART TEACHES NOTHING BUT THE SIGNIFICANCE OF LIFE," AND THAT SEEMS MORE ACCURATE. AFTER ALL, VISUAL ARTS, LIKE LITERARY AND OTHER FORMS OF ART, GIVE US THE EYES TO SEE PEOPLE, PLACES, AND IDEAS BEYOND OUR OWN LIMITED VIEWS -- OR, JUST AS IMPORTANTLY, TO SEE WHAT IS RIGHT IN FRONT OF US FROM A FRESH PERSPECTIVE.
IN THIS SHOW, I HAVE SELECTED A VARIETY OF PIECES IN VARYING MEDIUMS THAT I BELIEVE CAPTURE THIS IDEA. FROM THE SIMPLE EYES OF A PLAYFUL PUP TO THE THOUGHTFUL LOOK OF A "COUNTRY BOY" TO A CLOUDY SUNSET SKY, MY WORK IS MEANT TO GUIDE VIEWERS TO PLACES AND PEOPLE THEY MAY NEVER HAVE SEEN -- OR MAYBE JUST TO MAKE THEM SEE THESE THINGS IN A NEW LIGHT. IN DOING SO, I HOPE TO GIVE VIEWERS AT LEAST A GLIMPSE OF THE "FACES, PLACES, AND PERSONALITIES" THAT ARE THE INSPIRATION BEHIND MY WORK.

The art included in this show is available for your purusal throughout the website. :)

Summer 2006: Eat at Joe's and More

With a little more free time in the Summer of 2006, I create numerous new works of art, while continuing to work on my website and promote my art. I also do some painting at a local restaurant, Joe's U.S. 40 Grille, in Springfield, Ohio. My work there includes some prominent large-scale lettering on a wall near the register. You can see the painted wall in the picture, which was taken at a later date.