The Journey

I have always self-identified as an artist.  Arriving at the place where I create for public consumption has not been a linear path. When I was younger, I did not have the courage to pursue art as a career.  I listened to people who cautioned me with words like “You don’t want to be a starving artist.”  The world of professional artists felt thrilling yet intimidating at that time. However I continued to paint and create for the pure joy of it. Making art, for me, is as crucial as breathing.

My earliest memories of art making are when I used to draw outside during recess in elementary school.  My favorite subject was art….and penmanship.  I used to draw most days at home as well.  But I fell away from art making in during my highs school years, preferring to keep my art more personal. I struggled in school. I was good at art, but every other class was difficult for me.  I began my college experience at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst.  I was very happy to be going away to school, meeting new people and enjoying different perspectives, both artistically and in other ways. While at UMASS I found myself drawn to the idea of  taking every art class possible. I was finally approached by the head of the Art department who asked me what my plan was as he could see I was not leaning towards a major in any other area.  I said I didn’t know, I just wanted to take art classes. He encouraged me to apply to Massachusetts College of Art and he helped me put together a portfolio. To my delight, I got in. Still hearing the naysayers in my head, I decided to major in graphic design, because I thought it might be a way to still use my artistic talents and yet be able to “feed myself”. To no surprise from what I know of myself now, graphic design did not sustain my desire to create.  I wanted to paint.  So, during my first year at MASSART, I enrolled in a painting elective.  The teacher was terrifying and I left class before it was over, never to return. I graduated with a BFA in graphic design and following that only made art on a very personal level while I worked at jobs to pay rent, got married and had children. Later, I obtained a job at Falmouth Public Schools, where I have been happily teaching middle school art for twenty years.

Teaching allowed me to rediscover making and creating all forms of art but I was still keeping my own work small and private.  About a decade ago, a friend who is a fellow artist said to me “GET OUT OF YOUR SKETCHBOOK!”  I finally realized the only thing standing between me and sharing my art making was me.  So I took my friend's advice and ever since I have been painting and as if my life depended on it. 

Education: 1986-1990  BFA, Massachusetts College of Art, Boston MA