About ME

I started all this just to stay busy and something kept nagging me to see if I could draw.  I picked up a pencil and drew an owl. From there I watched  Youtube videos until I got the nerve to purchase some acrylic paints and do some pours on canvas.  Then I watched watercolor videos and that lead me to alcohol inks.  I started creating and it’s just not stopped now for a year later  So, I started talking about developing a website to post my work and here it is.

I would be remiss if I didn’t thank my friend Ev for her encouragement for developing this site.  She had a dream and could see the cover photograph of a book.  She described it in great detail and has always loved my  work.  She’s a great driving force for me and I thank her so much!

In this art journey I have come across several artist who have been very available to teach and share what they have already learned.  Ellen Brenneman, Jane Monteith and Gary Watson just to name a few were always helpful and cheering me on when I asked for help. I also have been encouraged by many of my friends that tell me I have talent.  It’s a hard thing to wrap your head around, at least it has been for me.

   Seriously though to give you a little background about me, I live in a great part of the country where in the Appalachian Mountains there are all sorts of handmade crafts. Some are from necessity of living and some are from the joy of living.  That’s how I look at art.  It’s from the joy of living that I create my works.

I was raised in Knoxville, Tennessee and now live in Gatlinburg, Tennessee.  In Gatlinburg, I live in an area that’s called the Artisan Community. It’s quite exciting to see all the galleries and if you ever get a chance to visit the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, you should take the time to see this little community.

I was raised in Knoxville, Tennessee and married very young.  I had two little boys by the time I was 20.  I became a cosmetologist and even had my own salon before becoming a criminal court reporter.  During that span of time, my marriage ended and about two years later I met the man that would help me raise two teenage boys to become the fine men they are today.

My parents had a furniture refinishing business and I was raised around antiques and auctions all my life.  They would set up on weekends and sell their furniture and antiques.  On Labor Day for over 30 years they set up in the VFW lot in Hillsville, Virginia to sell their wares.  I felt I knew enough to do the same thing and I started purchasing estates and before I knew it I had a barn full of tubs.  It was at those shows I saw so many people that created art out of all sorts of things.

I became a Realtor and that avenue allowed me to have contacts for the estate items that became available.  After the real estate crash of 2008 I started working in the vacation industry.  During those few years I was considered the top producer for a couple of companies.

For many years I loved doing needle work.  I can sew, crochet, knit, tat, cross stitch and most of the needle work.  Drawing comes easy and it lends itself to my art work.  So, that’s sort of how I came to do art.  Its an extension of keeping my hands busy and creating.

This blog and website has been quite a learning experience.  You have to learn so much in order to edit pictures, get a domain, design a website,  design a blog, share your site with social media …..it goes on and on.

Now this is a short version of how I got here to making this blog and how art became the topic.  I look forward to showing my techniques in the future and hope you find it very helpful

I also enjoy traveling and going to different casinos.  I’m a pretty good blackjack player and poker is also something I love.  I hope you get enjoyment from all my goings on.

!  Be Happy !!!  Enjoy!!!