“Art is What Feelings Look Like”
Artist Statement
I can’t remember when I wasn’t interested in some kind of Art. In Kindergarten I was mesmerized by the smell and fear of a new box of crayons. Fear because of embarrassment when I broke one of those lovely crayons. Then I discovered interesting things one could do with a broken crayon. Peel the paper off and use the side of the crayon to draw thick trees. Squiggle it on the paper and it made lovely flowers.
I often made my own set of paper dolls. Drew them on cardboard, cut them out then made a wardrobe for each. From cereal boxes I made chairs, beds and other furniture. I don’t remember playing with these creations. The creative process was more fun but I longed to be a real artist.
As I grew older I decided my artistic endeavors were childish and continued longing to do real “Art.” Mother gave me a set of oil paints, brushes and an easel. My efforts were so frustrating that I gave up. Our High School had a very good art program, but I was too intimidated to try.
An Elementary Education major in college required 2 art classes. The Art professor really opened up the painting world to me. She almost begged me to attend Art School. I was about to get married and we needed two incomes.
“I can’t make a living doing art” I decided.
My biggest and happiest priority was raising a family. Providing art materials for the children, making window treatments, wall papering our home and upholstering our aged sofas satisfied the “creative” need.
Wasn’t it art to make puppets, write skits and entertain children?
It was when our last child left for college that I got serious about “real art.” I enrolled in the community college nearby. Took art classes and began painting in earnest. I’ve been painting for 30 years. Painting expresses the feelings I have inside. Widowed nine years ago, I found solace and joy in a paintbrush and canvass.
My work has been in several Nashville galleries. I’ve won some awards through the years and sold a lot of paintings. At age 81, my memory fails on the details. I just hope to paint for many years to come.