Art Licensing Information: Artist Spotlight

Tell us a bit about yourself: Did you go to school for art? Are you self taught?
I have been creating art since I was a young child. At eight years old, I began taking art classes from a local artist in Decatur, Alabama who operated a teaching art studio in her back yard. Starting with pencil, she taught me how to use all the major media - watercolor, pen and ink, pastels, acrylic and oil. It was an idyllic setting - arriving once a week after school to freshly popped popcorn, cold cokes out of the bottle and rock music playing from the radio. My friends were there, along with the older, cooler girls as well, and we pulled pranks in addition to creating art. I lost that battle when I discovered 20 slugs in my paint box.

When I was 12, we moved to Wellesley, Massachusetts, where I took art classes at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts and learned the art of printmaking. I remember roaming the hushed galleries to find inspiration from the ancient Egyptian and Greek collections. I continued to create art throughout high school. During my time at Wake Forest I majored in English and Art History and took several studio classes. My English and Art History classes created lasting impressions, inspiring me with their symbolism and lyrical beauty. After graduating, I picked up watercolor again in my spare time, painting Christmas cards and nursery pieces for my friends. Then I began concentrating on forging my career, though not in art.

Now twenty years later, I live in Birmingham, Alabama and work as Marketing Director for a bank consulting firm. My goal for the past year has been to focus more on my art - beyond the occasional commission - and explore licensing my designs. I work my real job four days a week and spend the other three days on my burgeoning art career. Recently I printed my artwork onto baby items (onesies, bibs, tees) and sell them at a local boutique.

What inspires you / where do you get inspiration from?
Books, songs, movies, travel, animals, art museums, cool things, everyday life.

Do you work in just one medium? Several?
Currently I work in watercolor, using a whimsical illustrative style.

What are you working on now?
After returning from my first time exhibiting at SURTEX in May, I've been rounding out my collections, adding new holidays and contemplating what collection to begin next. I've also been following-up with contacts I met at SURTEX, sending samples and preparing my artwork for artlicensingshow.com.

Anything else you want to tell everyone?
I love music almost as much as I love art. Whether I'm painting, exercising, working, cooking, driving or just hanging out, I am always listening to music. In my artwork, every brush stroke has been accompanied by a chord of music, usually something from the 60s, 70s or 80s.

As I'm new to art licensing, I would welcome any feedback on my art or my approach to licensing. There are so many talented, supportive, gracious artists in this community, and I look forward to meeting more of you.

You'll soon notice my affinity for incorporating mice in my paintings. I like to think there are clever, industrious mice behind the scenes of our lives, making everything more joyful, magical and imaginative.

Are you an early riser? or night owl?
I used to be a night owl (didn't we all?), but now I'm an early riser and look forward to drinking coffee, reading the newspaper and easing into the day (when I'm not headed to work, that is).

What is your favorite food?
Pizza!