My Story
“When I create art, time ceases to exist. I am caught up in the act of creating. It's a new world, a world close to the divine and I could fall over the doorstep into eternity with the brush still in my hand and not miss a stroke.”
I am an artist. I call myself that because I've always made art. Drawing came naturally so that I never thought of it as special or a talent. In grammar school, my teachers soon realized that I could draw. As I moved through school I made huge murals on paper that my teachers rolled out. I decorated it with flowers, birds, animals, trees, and holiday themes. In fifth grade I drew a large drawing of a mockingbird in a dogwood tree. The mockingbird is Tennessee's state bird and my teacher kept it displayed in her classroom for many years. When I entered high school, there was no art! No murals to decorate. No tempera paint. The year after I graduated, they started offering art classes. I always wondered if my life might have been different if I had been able to take art. Raising a family left no time to think about art. However, I did make a giant Santa Claus head for my children and did craft projects with them. It wasn't until 1974 that I happened to see some watercolor paintings in someone's home. I had never seen a “real” painting before except in books. I was smitten and a burning desire began in my heart and I wondered if I would ever be able to do that. I didn't have any paints or surfaces to paint on. I got a small set of watercolors and I painted on top of candy boxes and any other surfaces that would sit still long enough. Finally I used actual watercolor paper and then there was no stopping me. I painted for several years in watercolor and began to do art shows. People actually bought my work! I wanted to see what oil paint was like, so I tried it. From there I moved on to acrylic, pastel, oil pastel, printmaking, encaustic, and digital art. The art you see here is me saying, “There are no rules.” I can paint whatever I want in whatever style suits me. Some say to be successful, you should have a consistent style. But I am changing, ever-changing and that feels right for this child of God who loves to paint. Painting is never old, never dull and always young in heart and mind.Enjoy my journey,Bobbi
I am an artist. I call myself that because I've always made art. Drawing came naturally so that I never thought of it as special or a talent. In grammar school, my teachers soon realized that I could draw. As I moved through school I made huge murals on paper that my teachers rolled out. I decorated it with flowers, birds, animals, trees, and holiday themes. In fifth grade I drew a large drawing of a mockingbird in a dogwood tree. The mockingbird is Tennessee's state bird and my teacher kept it displayed in her classroom for many years. When I entered high school, there was no art! No murals to decorate. No tempera paint. The year after I graduated, they started offering art classes. I always wondered if my life might have been different if I had been able to take art. Raising a family left no time to think about art. However, I did make a giant Santa Claus head for my children and did craft projects with them. It wasn't until 1974 that I happened to see some watercolor paintings in someone's home. I had never seen a “real” painting before except in books. I was smitten and a burning desire began in my heart and I wondered if I would ever be able to do that. I didn't have any paints or surfaces to paint on. I got a small set of watercolors and I painted on top of candy boxes and any other surfaces that would sit still long enough. Finally I used actual watercolor paper and then there was no stopping me. I painted for several years in watercolor and began to do art shows. People actually bought my work! I wanted to see what oil paint was like, so I tried it. From there I moved on to acrylic, pastel, oil pastel, printmaking, encaustic, and digital art. The art you see here is me saying, “There are no rules.” I can paint whatever I want in whatever style suits me. Some say to be successful, you should have a consistent style. But I am changing, ever-changing and that feels right for this child of God who loves to paint. Painting is never old, never dull and always young in heart and mind.Enjoy my journey,Bobbi
“Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.”
