Passing on the Knowledge
My Mom is my mentor. Without a doubt it is my Mother. Sure, I had art teachers and other artists teaching me throughout my life, but my Mom was there through it all. She was an artist who went to school in N.Y. and she taught me almost everything I know. She had been in galleries and sold art for a long time. I often wonder where some of her pieces ended up. Of course nowadays there is even more to learn. The computer has revolutionized the industry, which it has for so many other endeavors. Advertising, networking, finding work and selling are all a new game. Creating art has also been changed by the computer age, it has opened the door to yet another way to make art.
My Mom was patient, waiting for me to show an interest, but it was more like living in that artist environment that had me soaking up knowledge like a sponge. It was there for when I was ready. We were involved, as a family, with local theater and did many shows. I did makeup, painting scenery, set up lights, sang and danced my way through my life. Both my parents were appreciative of varying different disciplines. Dad would take me to opera and orchestra also. Having my Mom as my mentor changed my life, and I did’t even hardly realize it.
Early Beginnings
My first painting was a study of feet, it was pretty awful and I hope it has been lost for good, I was in the third grade at the time. That scared me away for quite a while, but I naturally gravitated back to it. Now I know that not every piece turns out to be successful, so it is okay. But I hope it still never shows up. I don’t even know why that subject matter was chosen. I remember being a model for my Mom’s students and she taught me how and what to do. That was kind of fun. Back in those days it was sometimes common to barter services and I received voice lessons from a backup singer for Jim Morrison. I learned at double time. I remember asking this person if she thought he was really gone and her answer was a very simple yes.
So, I carry my Mom’s desire and passion, but some is my own and together it makes for some awesome experiences.
