The meaning of life...
"I was born to inspire others with my creative abilities."
I was born in Biddefford Maine, oldest of 4 children. We lived in Saco and Old Orchard Beach, by the ocean, till I was 6. My standout memories as a child there were drawing, painting and just creating. My mother will admit I did this from the moment I could hold a pencil, I was 10 months old. I remember drawing my first portrait of her when I was 3.
My mother was a busy woman, a biology teacher, but spending most of her time at home while we were young. My father was a merchant mariner and was gone to work on cargo ships most of the time. He would always bring us back a present, mine was usually a doll. I ended up gaining quite a collection of these from his travels around the world.
We would go to the beach everyday when I go out of school. One place we lived in Pine Point, the ocean was right outside our back door. We would collect shells and create things out of them on a daily basis. I had the coolest Mom, she would always let us get our hands dirty with glue and paint. She was extremely creative herself always coming up with new fun ideas. We played with homemade play-dough, handmade our Christmas ornaments and made jewelry out of tinfoil.
When I was 6 yrs old we moved Rumford Maine, a small mill town where my mother's family was from. My parents bought a ranch on 5 acres of land. I already had a love for the beauty of the ocean and then grew to be memorized with mountains, hills, trees, ponds, brooks and the rivers. I loved playing outside and just being a part of nature. The beauty of the landscape amazed me. I was intrigued by detail from the clouds, to the trees, to a single blade of grass.
I always struggled in school academically with the exception of art, chorus or any creative elective like photography. I guess you could say I've always been a right brained person. While the teacher would lecture I was studying the details of the classroom, daydreaming or doodling on my notebook. I realized I had more than a love for art but an actual gift when I won my first art contest in the 4th grade. It was October, we were asked to create a piece of art for that month. I painted a picture of a haunted house, from my imagination, with bats flying around a full moon.
In high school I had the opportunity to explore my abilities with different types of mediums. I did a lot of oil paintings in art class, some stained glass, a bit of sculpture, lots of charcoal sketches, carved printing blocks to name a few. Outside of school I was also exploring. My mother was born 5th out of 16 children. We have a huge family on her side. Lots of aunts, uncles and cousins. We have quite a number of creative relatives. My mother and brother included. Family members gave me drawing tips, craft painting lessons, taught me how to knit and sew. A couple other mediums and tools I got into experimenting with for a while were wood-burning and glass etching. I started selling these various creations when I was 14. I had many custom orders of all types. I remember even selling some sketches for tattoos.
I was in my first art exhibit when I was in the 9th grade. I had an offer one of my pieces. It was a water color portrait of "Prince" singing in a limited pallet of black, purple and white. I never did sell that piece but it taught me a lesson. I thought deeply for days on why I didn't sell that creation. I came to realize it was too personal, also a singer and it had great meaning to me. I then began to understand the pieces I created that were the most sought after were ones I constructed from my heart and soul. If I was going to be a renowned artist I would have to let go of those types of pieces, ones my collectors and future collectors could connect with.
In high school I gathered a few other stand out memories as the beginning of my art career. I was asked to paint a mural on the school wall that went up the main stairway. It's till there today! I was also asked to do a sketch of a panther for our year book, which everyone in my graduating class now has forever. My art teacher had a constant display of my art pieces in the display window, facing the main hall. I got numerous commission work.
In 1988 I moved to Portland Maine where I lived for a year attended and completed a cosmetology, creative trade. I was once again close to the ocean, one of my favorite loves. Though a self taught artist I always looked for ways to expand my knowledge. On weekends I would go down to the boardwalk where I would watch the portrait and caricature artists work for hours. During the week I would work on the techniques I absorbed. Within 6 months I perfected my portrait drawing skills in graphite, charcoal & pastels, my caricatures in pen, ink & marker. I sold literally 100's if not thousands of these commissions throughout my career. I would draw people or animals. I worked as a cosmetologist in Old Orchard Beach Maine for a couple of years. I got numerous art commissions from a display I kept at my station.
One of my cousins brought me an ad from the newspaper for a lead vocalist position in a popular New Hampshire show band. I decided to audition for the heck of it. I ended up getting the position so I relocated to Derry NH for a year and then Manchester for another yr while I sang and traveled every weekend with the band all over New England. I did some drawing and painting but not a lot during this time.
In 1992 I relocated again to Laconia NH where I joined another band. I got married for a short period of time & had two beautiful girls. I loved living by lake Winnipesaukee, it's so large that it sometimes reminds me of the ocean. I settled here to raise my children.
When my children were little I quit the bands to take care of my beautiful babies:) I started doing my artwork more seriously. I started painting in acrylics because I didn't want toxic fumes from the oils around my girls. I ended up really loving these and now acrylics are my favorite medium of all. I started selling my pieces online. I have collectors now from around the world thanks to the internet. Locally I was asked to do a presentation for an Art association, which I am now a member. I was chosen as artist of the month at a downtown gallery where I had a solo exhibit. I've done numerous arts and craft shows selling many pieces, one show I coordinated myself, it was a great success. I also did numerous custom murals and taught art lessons.
As well as being an artist I also have entrepreneur-ism in my blood. I did photography work for a few yrs, weddings and model shots, owner of a local cleaning company for 7 yrs and then owned my own hair salon for 6 & 1/2 yrs. I would display my works of art in my shop selling my work still and building another following. Currently still in Laconia I bought my own home years ago and enjoy the beautiful scenes of the lakes region. It gives me great inspiration to paint. I now support myself solely with my artistic talent. Art is in my blood. I live and breathe art more these days than ever before. Even though I feel settled with where I am as an artist I learn something new daily. I have been constantly evolving and forever will.
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