Tell us about your artistic journey!
Many years ago I was a stay-at-home mom in need of a supplemental income. I decided to buy a scroll saw and sander and started to design Christmas ornaments to paint and sell. You could find me most day sin the garage sawing and sanding and covered in sawdust.
I specialized in Christmas ornaments and Santas. I bought myself a pop up tent and sold my wares in all the local art shows, and did very well. But, after twenty or so years of that I decided that was enough and packed everything away.
About seven years ago after some devastating losses in my life, I felt the need to create again. I had just gotten on Instagram and saw a post about a 100 face challenge. I decided to give it a try, but was doubtful I would finish the challenge after all, a hundred faces in a hundred days seemed impossible to me!
I picked up an old brush, some kids' watercolors I had, and a sketchpad, and that was the start of a new adventure!
We noticed that you do a lot of portraiture. What do you like most about this subject matter?
I’ve always been fascinated by faces, I would peruse all the National Geographic’s magazines I could get my hands on just to look at so many faces from around the world.
Although I didn’t draw them back then I was happy just to look.
So when I saw the 100 face challenge on Instagram, I thought it would be fun to try!
There is just so much to see and feel in a persons face or any creature for that matter.
When seeing your work for the first time we were very drawn to your style. What inspires your style?
It’s just evolved over the past 6-7 years. I started out trying to be more realistic in my faces and as time went by I realized I didn’t have to paint that way, that I could do whatever I wanted and that was really the beginning of developing my style, it felt liberating.Emotions and feelings are my inspiration.
If you had to use only one medium from now on, what would you choose, and why?
My favorite medium is definitely watercolor. I had never used it before starting the face challenge and I really love it. I like the looseness of it, how it flows on the paper, and how you can put more down or lift it up, my brush feels light and airy!
Do you have a favorite Stoneworks Mill product, and if so, which and why?
Well of course I love your watercolors!
I don’t have every color yet but I’ll be working on that!
I’m making a list!
The color Sundown has been my absolute favorite since I got it a short time ago.
