How Long have you been creating?

Well, that is an easy one to answer. I have been creating since I was little and could finally hold onto a pen or crayons. My mom still has a lot of artwork I did when I was in kindergarten and before. She saved pieces all throughout my school years. Just recently I went through boxes of school papers and was amazed to see the similarities in my work from then to now. Obviously my work is a little more pulled together now, but in a sense you can still see a certain style in the way I added details such as spirals, dots and certain ways of filling the space.

I had the added benefit of having artists in the family. I would go spend days with my Aunt Eva learning techniques in oil painting and trying to watercolor (which I was awful at). She and I would paint in her gorgeous flower and tree filled Nevada County backyard. I painted My first oil landscape at 11. I also painted outhouses and other goofy things. Great memories.

What is your media of choice?

Oh, It depends on the day. Really. I just finished a show that opened last month. All of the work he has from my previous show a year or so ago was done in acrylics on masonite. Creating more work for him this time, Sacramento city scenes, was difficult in that I could not bear to bring out acrylics, brushes and water etc...It seemed like such a chore. So, I did the whole show in oil pastels on masonite then varnished them. They look exactly the same as my acrylic pieces, which is kind of funny, but all I had to do was draw and smear. I just go through phases.

What are your motivations for creating?

Well, there are few different reasons. First of all I would go crazy if I didn't get to make things. It can be any kind of art really but I just love to do it. There is a satisfaction in creating something new that didn't exist before. I also love it when people get to view my work and I get feedback from them or I just get to spy on them at openings and see their facial expressions or listen to their comments. That is always fun. Sometimes people read so much into things and I get a kick out of hearing it. Especially when they have no clue that I am the artist. The next motivation is money. My husband works and I stay at home with our two little boys, 5 and 3, and I like to help financially when I can. I try not to emphasize that motivation though because it kills the creativity and brings the artwork down. Part of my art I do consider business though and I know that I am creating it specifically for the sales potential. That artwork is the hardest art to want to make.

What other artists or movements inform your work?

I always feel funny when people ask me about this. Up until recently I haven't really been interested in art movements or other "famous" artists work. I guess I am a bit ignorant on that subject. I was just interested in what I was creating. Especially in my late teens, early twenties...I didn't visit Galleries, I didn't have any artist friends. I just wasn't exposed at that point to anything in the way of art culture. Most people had no idea that I did art at all.

Now I'd say I can't go to any gallery without feeling completely inspired or or insanely jealous of other artists work. The variety of creativity that comes from each of us is amazing. They don't inspire me to copy them, but they inspire me to let more of myself show through my art and not hold back as much. I think it is normal to constantly compare your work to others. Others artists make me question my self. Why is my work so plain? Why is my work pretty? How do they make those colors work? I wish my art was bigger? I want to do giant canvases like so and so. Why am I not brave enough to do stuff like that? What would my mother think? ha ha ha.. Etc...

What do you find visually stimulating right now?

Clean modern lines, no color, white on white. Sitting in a simple white box with light shining in through white flowing curtains would be nice. Steel, glass, minimalism. I would love a huge loft with tall ceilings and the plumbing and pipes showing. I know this is because I have been in complete chaos getting shows together for the last couple of months. My house was a mess and my art supplies were taking over. Unfortunately I could never create minimalistic paintings with out them feeling incomplete. My nature is to go a little overboard with color.

What's the last book you read?

Let's see...half of Shogun, part of Animal Farm, various chapters from Phobias, Panic and Anxiety. I read a bad book from the 99 cent store, not worth mentioning. My last complete read was either the Diary of Frida Kahlo or A Map of the World. I can't remember which I read first. I am now reading Midwives.

You're a self taught artist, yet have found good success in the traditional gallery scene. What were some of the challenges you faced in getting out there?

Surprisingly enough my only challenge was my own fear. I remember shaking and wanting to throw up from the fear of rejection. Once I approached my first gallery the rest was a piece of cake. I have been showing for well over 12 years now. It has been surprisingly easy. I kind of treat it like a game. Where can I show next? I sent an application with slides to the Florida State Museum of Fine Arts Nationals show just for fun. Having just had my first solo exhibition I had a few pieces left unsold. So, I thought "why not?". Both of my pieces were accepted. Just go for it. search the web for exhibition opportunities. They will most likely be group shows that are juried. If you have a couple pieces to send slides of thats great. That way you do not constantly need to have a huge body of work.

So, then there is the auction. Honestly, I think Online auctions are brutal on artist's egos and wallets. I treat my auctions mainly as advertisements. I am surprised at the hard work you can put into creating art and then they sell for close to nothing. There are other options out there, gift shops which specialize in art and functional art, Specialty stores etc...Those kinds of galleries will carry your art year round on consignment and you have the opportunity to make consistent sales. Auctions are great for getting your work seen in other states and countries, but I would never put all my eggs in that basket.

What would you like your fellow EBSQ artists and our collectors to know about you and your work?

I feel slightly schizophrenic when it comes to creating. I get bored easily and my work styles bounce around from being very emotionally driven and expressive with a lot to say, to being more spiritually driven and pretty, to being completely sarcastic and funny. Sometimes the thought of painting a landscape makes me want to scream. Other times it is nice to paint them and put all thoughts aside. Sometimes I do dark art that is very ugly and I cry while creating it, but it is like therapy. Sometimes I feel rebellious and create erotic strange drawings that may shock some people and I get a kick out of that. I guess I want people to know that I am not concerned with sticking to one style. I don't want people to easily define me or tie me down to one genre of work. I am only concerned about sticking to the natural flow of my emotions, creative energy and artistic growth .