I live in Gloucester, MA. The beautiful “other Cape”, with my husband, Tadhg and three children. I work full time as a public elementary school art teacher in a nearby school. My own children make up a few of the 365 students I teach in a weekly basis. I can’t think of a greater gift than sharing the elementary years with my own children. It is a delicate dance, of letting go and reining in. Our family life is pretty exposed. But there is more good than bad when juggling the mom/teacher gig.
Nothing makes me more sad when a person says they “used to make art” you know, until “real life” set in. Until they became a mom, or a wife or got a “real job”, or you know, the “demands of teaching do not allow for me to create art”. Yes. Those are the stories that strike instant fear and break my heart. They break my heart because I walk that tight rope in my my own life. Struggling so hard with real life and real jobs and marriage and motherhood and my art has taken a back seat to those things many times. It’s a struggle to keep art on the front burner- but it’s worth the struggle.
Two years ago my husband built me an art studio from scratch and it is a separate building on our property. It was the most romantic and kind thing anyone has ever done for me. So with that space, I paint and I paint as often as I can. I typically paint at night when dinner is done, dishes are clean and kids are all fine and good. The walk from my studio to the house is short, dark, and I’m terrified of woodland creatures- so I sprint to the house- heart racing. I mostly paint still life and boat scenes. I dabble in portraits and at one point landscapes were my jam. When I’m more free to paint during daylight hours, I might dive back into landscape. I respond to color and composition. I am an impressionist. I love detail but usually can’t be bothered with getting it too perfect. I’m a fan of Carol Marine, Sarah Sedwick and the daily painter movement. You won’t find dark themes in my work- I’m a hopeless romantic, lover of love. I abandoned the idea that all artists have to be tormented and starving a long time ago. I believe art should be accessible to all so I don’t ask for unreasonable fees for my work. I price work based on my feeling towards a piece. When I price a work I ask, “what can I let this go for, and still keep my dignity in tact? “ I keep in mind that trades people painting walls white get up to $80 an hour. I get irritable when I haven’t been in the studio in a few days. I love where I am at artistically but I know I am not yet where I want to be.
I value health, family and art- and I’ve tried to eliminate all things from my life that take me away from those things. I’ve eliminated alcohol- I’m going on year 2 alcohol free. I love my alcohol free lifestyle. It allows me to always be present. I couldn’t do what I’m doing now while using alcohol. I am obsessed with the creative process. Books that have guided my path and impacted my work are “Big Magic” by Elizabeth Gilbert and “The Artists Way” by Julia Cameron (the Bible). This blog is where I document my creative endeavors. This is me with my Sunflower painting- recently sold to a collector in NY. I’ve always wanted to say that...
