Autobiography of an Artist
I began painting at age 50, after a 25-year multifaceted career in the human services field. Although I became a painter later in life, I was always drawn to the arts. My family is extraordinarily creative and I am descended from generations of largely self-taught artists. As a young child I knew deep inside of me that I was an artist.
When I was 27 years old, I acquired a severe disability in an automobile accident that left me paralyzed from the neck down. This was devastating to me. After the injury, I did not think I would be able to express myself as an artist. I had limited use of my arms and no movement in my hands.
In 1996, I participated in an intuition workshop which included some exploratory art activities using the workbook “The Artist’s Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity,” by Julia Cameron. Using braces and splints and sometimes sticking the paintbrush in my mouth, I was able to paint. The following quote from Julia Cameron’s book spoke directly to me.
“No matter what your age or your life path, whether making art
is your career or your hobby or your dream, it is not too late or
too egotistical or too selfish or too silly to work on your creativity.”
In 1997 I started a “kitchen table art group” with 4 women friends which lasted for fifteen years. I have been painting now for over 24 years. With my first painting, I realized the river of creativity and artistic talent flowing through me.
As an artist, I am concerned about the human condition. I seek to convey this through my art. As an individual, I seek to be in touch with the depths of my own being. My “identities” as an African-American artist, a woman artist, and an artist with a disability all come into play here. These dynamics impact my art. My paintings of human beings are deeply reflective of the human spirit. They embody culture and place while at the same time bearing witness to the web of life and the inner spirit that connects us all. That is why I believe that my works have been described as “… perceptive…and stunning in their depth.” (The Anderson Herald-Bulletin)
My Fine Art Prints
My prints are created using the finest archival-grade papers and canvases. They are produced
using the giclée printing process.
Giclée prints are reproductions of original works of art using high-resolution digital scans. The
giclée printing process produces what is considered to be a museum-quality print of the original
artwork. The reproductions are printed on fine art archival paper or archival canvas.
Giclée prints offer you the opportunity to own an affordable high-quality print of one of my
original fine art paintings. Some of the prints are offered in two sizes enabling you to custom fit
the size to the space where it will be displayed.
All prints larger than 11 x 14 are shipped rolled in a protective tube. They are delivered frame-ready, allowing you to choose the framing that best suits your needs. Prints 11 x 14 and smaller are mounted on board and shipped flat.
Canvas and Paper Choices:
Lyve Canvas is one of the best fine art canvases for reproductions. It creates a masterpiece print. I offer Lyve canvas prints on a stretched canvas. The canvas is stretched on premium high-quality wood stretcher bars and comes with a mirrored edge.
Studio Canvas is a beautiful satin canvas with a low glare finish. It has excellent color brilliance and image definition. Studio Canvas prints are offered on stretched mirrored-edge canvas.
Moab Entrada Rag Natural is an archival paper with exceptional color reproduction for beautiful long-lasting prints. It has a slightly textured smooth fine art surface.
Studio Watercolor is a bright white, textured fine art paper with a vibrant print surface.