ABOUT THE ARTIST
Creating art is a much like breathing to me - something I just have to. My feet don't touch the ground and I feel like I am airborne when I am being creative.
My Artist Statement
As an art teacher it has served me well to use multiple mediums and a range of styles. I've been a successful, studio artist all my life and have developed a number of concentrations and portfolios over the years but no style or subject matter felt true, felt like it was me or really stuck.
I love teaching and I love being a working artist. I find that both careers work beautifully together and push my art. I teach advanced and beginning high school students so I am always reaching for new techniques, trends and assignments that will engage my classes. I don't believe I would have discovered drawing on the pages from old dictionary pages if I wasn't a teacher. It fits perfectly to use a teaching tool to create my art.
I'm not a youngster. I love to travel, I love theater and film. I love anything with a story and a history. I believe these interests and my “maturity” are reflected in my work.
My most recent, artistic pursuit are drawings on pages from discarded dictionaries. These simple little drawings resemble vintage illustrations from my childhood and I like to think my subjects have a story a narrative. Many of the subjects used in my work are keepsakes or remembrances from our family farm established over a hundred years ago on the Oklahoma prairie. I capture my subjects on 30-150 year old, dictionaries which are fragile and require multiple mediums to develop. I rescue these books from libraries around the country and repurpose them so the pages regain their importance. I have also developed a method of reproducing dictionary pages on equally old parchment paper which enables me to work larger than typical book sizes.
I believe I've found my voice and artwork which best defines who I am and what I care about. It has been exciting to see patrons respond to these drawings. Something familiar, comfortable and personal seems to resonate.
MY RESUME & SHOW SCHEDULE
EDUCATION
Southwestern Oklahoma State University
Bachelors in Graphic Art May 1979
Sum ma cum Laude
WORK EXPERIENCE
Advanced Placement & Beginning 2-D Art Educator
Guymon Public Schools 2000-Present
Fundamentals & Art History Adjunct Educator
Oklahoma Panhandle State University 1998-2000
Owner & Studio Artist/Private Educator
Flying Shoes Art Studio 1979-Present
Etsy Shop www.Etsy.com/shop/flyingshoes
Designer & Artist
Annabelle Stamps - Australia www.annabellestamps.com Present
Administrator/CEO/Counselor
Next Step Network Drug Treatment Center 1989-1999
Career & Employment Counselor
Oklahoma Economic Development Association 1985-1988
Dispatcher/Patrol
Weatherford Oklahoma Police Department 1978-1979
REPRESENTATION
WOW! Gallery http://wowgallerysantafe.com/
Santa Fe, New Mexico January 2014 - Present
Earthen Vessel Gallery http://earthenvessel.com/
Durango, Colorado August 2014 - Present
All Fired Up Art Gallery
Guymon, Oklahoma Sept.1995 - Present
El Sol Gallery
San Antonio, Texas June 2005 - Aug. 2009
SHOWS & FESTIVALS
Oklahoma City Festival of the Arts (Juried Show)
Oklahoma City, OK April 2015
Rio Grand Holiday Arts & Crafts Festival (Juried Show)
Albuquerque, NM November 2014
Crested Butte Festival of The Arts (Juried Show)
Crested Butte, CO August 2014
Berkshires Art Festival (Juried Show)
Great Barrington, MA July 2014
Paseo Festival of the Arts (Juried Show)
Paseo Arts District, Oklahoma City, OK May 2014
Oklahoma City Festival of the Arts (Juried Show)
Oklahoma City, OK April 2014
Rio Grande Holiday Arts & Crafts Festival (Juried Show)
Albuquerque, NM November 2013
Salida River Arts Festival (Juried Show)
Salida, CO August 2013
Paseo Festival of the Arts (Juried Show)
Paseo Arts District, Oklahoma City, OK May 2013
Solo Show
Wild Horse Art Gallery, Guymon, Oklahoma Oct. 2012
Solo Show
Trading Post Gallery, Taos, New Mexico Summer 2011
Solo Show
OHMS Gallery, Amarillo, Texas June-July 2010
Sunflower Art Festival Guymon, Oklahoma
June 2013
June 2012
June 2010
June 2009
Pumpkin Patch Art Festival Fall 2011, 2012
AWARDS & RECOGNITION
Best of Show Sunflower Art Festival 2009, 2010
Oklahoma Centennial Artist 2005 & 2007
Oklahoma Artist in Residence
Oklahoma State Arts Council 1990-1995
PRIVATE COLLECTIONS
Oklahoma Historical Society Museum Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Cimarron Historical Museum Boise City, Oklahoma
National Pork Producers Council Washington, D.C.
