This video was made in 2012. During the economic downturn around 2008, I hired 4 artists, and we all taught painting to anyone that wanted to try. Not just putting paint on a canvas, we actually showed techniques and they left with a finished painting ready to hang. I closed in 2012 to return to painting for myself full time. Many of my students, teachers and interns have kept in touch with me to this day! I love it!
What a Fun Ride I've Had
My journey has taken a lot of twists and turns and each one has taken me to a special place. Art was my college major, but I spent over 20 years in the IT industry and owned a corporate training company. I worked on the Space Shuttle and had a VIP invitation to the first Shuttle launch! And . . . I like to talk, so I was a featured speaker at many industry and SBA conventions and conferences.
After wearing heels, suits and dreaded pantyhose, I ditched them for jeans and flip flops, and dove head first into the art world. After having my art evaluated by a fine art consultant, a great gallery selected my art, it all sold in a month and I was on my way! But I made a deal with myself - If I was able to create art for a living, I wanted to make people happy. So to this day I opt not to put my angst on canvas, but rather turn it into something positive!
In 2004 I was selected as an American Established Contemporary Expressionist Artist represented by a founding member of Sotheby's online art auctions. I received the high honor of being a Listed Artist and am recorded in “Mayer’s International Auction Record”, Zurich, Switzerland. This book (sometimes called the "Dead Artist's Book" since Rembrandt, Picasso, etc. are in it) is used by international art collectors and museums. It's a privilege to be in there.
In the past 38 years my art has been published as prints worldwide, sold in galleries, used at fundraising events, and licensed onto over 20 retail products. I've been featured in the Festival Center of 8 Disney EPCOT Food & Wine or Flower & Garden Festivals, and in 2007 was the Flower & Garden Festival Poster Artist. I've been on PBS television several times and featured as an artist on FOX television.
My journey in the art world has given me one of the greatest treasures. It has provided an open door to meeting and becoming long lasting friends with those who have purchased my art, whether it be a small paper print or a pricey original. I have been blessed beyond belief in my connections with people who I have come to love dearly. I encourage those who love the beauty of art, but don't have the means to buy, to cut out from a magazine, a picture of art they love and put it on their wall. As they grow and achieve, they can move up to a print, and eventually may be able to purchase an original. Teach people to love art in forms they can afford.
The story of my Angels: They are dedicated to those who have died and left us with words of wisdom in a quote. Since art is not usually thrown away (ouch if it is!), the words live on in the artwork to be seen by current owners, viewers, and passed down through generations for new eyes to see.
After wearing heels, suits and dreaded pantyhose, I ditched them for jeans and flip flops, and dove head first into the art world. After having my art evaluated by a fine art consultant, a great gallery selected my art, it all sold in a month and I was on my way! But I made a deal with myself - If I was able to create art for a living, I wanted to make people happy. So to this day I opt not to put my angst on canvas, but rather turn it into something positive!
In 2004 I was selected as an American Established Contemporary Expressionist Artist represented by a founding member of Sotheby's online art auctions. I received the high honor of being a Listed Artist and am recorded in “Mayer’s International Auction Record”, Zurich, Switzerland. This book (sometimes called the "Dead Artist's Book" since Rembrandt, Picasso, etc. are in it) is used by international art collectors and museums. It's a privilege to be in there.
In the past 38 years my art has been published as prints worldwide, sold in galleries, used at fundraising events, and licensed onto over 20 retail products. I've been featured in the Festival Center of 8 Disney EPCOT Food & Wine or Flower & Garden Festivals, and in 2007 was the Flower & Garden Festival Poster Artist. I've been on PBS television several times and featured as an artist on FOX television.
My journey in the art world has given me one of the greatest treasures. It has provided an open door to meeting and becoming long lasting friends with those who have purchased my art, whether it be a small paper print or a pricey original. I have been blessed beyond belief in my connections with people who I have come to love dearly. I encourage those who love the beauty of art, but don't have the means to buy, to cut out from a magazine, a picture of art they love and put it on their wall. As they grow and achieve, they can move up to a print, and eventually may be able to purchase an original. Teach people to love art in forms they can afford.
The story of my Angels: They are dedicated to those who have died and left us with words of wisdom in a quote. Since art is not usually thrown away (ouch if it is!), the words live on in the artwork to be seen by current owners, viewers, and passed down through generations for new eyes to see.