The two things that inspire me most are being a MOM and being an ARTIST!

I have a little artist at home and I want nothing more than to encourage her to express herself and find joy in making art.  I want her to see that making art is a way of life and something that can be a part of every day.

I encourage all parents to share art & creativity with their children and EVERYONE should know they can acquire the skills necessary to see their creative ideas come to life!

My Artistic Journey

I feel that anyone who desires to be an artist – whether it be a painter, writer, photographer, etc. – can learn and follow their creative dreams.  My personal creative journey has been in Fine Art – Drawing & Painting. Anyone can learn to draw and paint, it’s not just for the “talented” few out there.  All you need is the right instruction and encouragement and someone to show you the way.

I first became more aware of my love for drawing and painting when I was in middle school.  I pursued art through my high school and college years and finally landed myself with a B.F.A.  I thought I was officially an “artist” but something was missing.

I remember sitting in the college parking lot on the day of my graduation thinking to myself… I really don’t draw or paint as I dreamed of.  This left me feeling empty and a bit lost.  Being a new college graduate I had no time to waste, on to the job search!

My “dream job” while growing up was to work in the feature film industry.  The “Hollywood” life was calling.  I worked my way through art departments, visual effects studios, and major movie studios (yes I worked for them all – Walt Disney Pictures, Dreamworks & Warner Bros.) only to find that while my jobs were amazing to my friends (check out my IMDB credits), I was still feeling empty and dissatisfied.

What was missing?  I wasn’t drawing or painting anymore!  I was spending countless hours managing other artists, but not creating myself.  I wanted to get back into “real” drawing and painting – with pencils,  paints, paper, and canvas!

I looked for some art classes and eventually moved out of the film industry altogether and into art instruction full-time.

I Became An Art Teacher!

What a wonderful experience it was.  After learning The Gluck Method, I began to impart this method to students and saw them bloom into aspiring artists. I finally felt that I was spending my time and energy doing something that was fulfilling and rewarding to myself and others.

The missing piece of the puzzle in almost every art class I had ever taken before The Gluck Method was TECHNIQUE.  I knew with my earlier education and experience that I could draw and paint relatively well compared to my peers, but not like the “Old Masters” and those beautiful masterpieces hanging in museums.

What was their secret?  Technique is the answer.  You can learn how to use your materials with the right techniques to create traditional, representational fine art.  With traditional skills and a little imagination, the world is yours to create!

This painting you see above is my duplication of Henri Fantin-Latour’s Large Bouquet with Three Peonies.