The first question that most ask me, whether it has to do with graphic design, drawing or stained glass is… how did you get started in art?
Indulging in drawing naturally started at a young age for me. I spent a great deal of my free time drawing and received a great deal of encouragement and support from my family. At the age of eight, my mother enrolled me in my first art class. My first instructor, who still continues to be an inspirational role model today, was Terry Waldron. She taught me not only how to draw but how to really look at things, how to break down what ever it was that I was drawing into shapes. This taught perspective served as the building block for me to construct a composition of what ever I was drawing. I eagerly continued my lessons up until I was a senior in high school.
After graduating from high school, I attended Southern Connnecticut State University to pursue a career in the art field. My freshman year I was confident enough to declare my major in Fine Arts. It was not until I sat down with my advisor, Mitchell Bills, to discuss what kind of future I would like to pursue in the art world. After a lengthy discussion with him, I decided to change my major to Graphic Design. Although this was not the path I had anticipated to travel, he helped me to see during my time in college that utilizing a computer to reveal my creative abilities and project ideas out into the world would open many doors in infinite ways. Having years of experience in the real world after college confirmed this vision.
I could not help but want to continue working with my hands to create something right in front of me, something that I could shape and actually pick up. To help fulfill my need to satisfy the basics of my talent, my gift, I took a stained glass class. It was there I was introduced to my instructor, Bruce Laughlin. I had such a different idea on what I was going to be doing in the class. When I saw the professor come in with a few sheets of glass and a glass cutter, I smiled to myself, thinking, I can get into this. The class appealed to this side of my creativity, and after a few sessions I had asked the professor what it would take for me to do this on my own. He gave me a shopping list of about five things, and I immediately began to set up my work station at home. Twelve years later I am more into this realm of creativity than ever.
With my completion of college and having experienced multiple ways to express my artistic abilities, I felt whole and ready to use them in both a career and personal capacity. My previous experience in the job market had opened those doors Mitchell Bills spoke to me about. Not only have I created amazing digital pieces, but I have been able to travel to many exciting places, including Europe, to enhance my skills in photography as well as appreciate the actual art pieces that inspired me to draw them.
I am currently looking to enhance my career in the field of Graphic Design after being blessed to grow productively here for many years. I am continuing to make stained glass Tiffany reproduction lamps as well, hoping to share these pieces with others as my collection becomes more numerous.
If there are any questions about anything you would like to know more about, please feel free to contact me. You can download my resume from the link above or you can view my LinkedIn page (link below). I also invite you to check out my Behance page (link below) for other projects I have done outside of Graphic Design.
I thank you very much for your time.