shellypaints' photostream  

New mom who squeezes in art time whenever she can. Moved recently to Middletown, OH after living in Olympia, WA for three years, Greenville, SC for eleven years, and Hiawatha, KS before that. Glad to sit still for a bit. Used to be able to write in full sentences, but think that ability was lost sometime during the birthing process. :)

Ok, I'll attempt some full sentences about my artwork.

Art and I go way back. Along with her many other talents, my mom is a seamstress and crafter. I, along with my three siblings, always kept busy with crafting projects. I spent my free time reading, drawing, and enjoying my safe Kansas childhood.

All that influence along with a couple of encouraging art teachers (thanks, Mrs. Jorgensen and Mrs. Daeschner!) led me to study graphic design in college.

After college I was completely burned out on art. I dabbled a bit off and on, but I really didn't get back into creating art until I was around 30 when I had an epiphany. I was always waiting for something in order to create... the perfect space, the perfect light, the perfect piece of paper. You get the idea. Finally I decided to just get busy creating.

I spent a few years making woodburned and painted objects (tables, mirror frames, plaques) that were inspired by the Sticks company in Des Moines, IA (www.sticks.com). After that, I moved to using acrylic paint on canvas. Most recently, thanks to my friend Lea who introduced me to it, I've switched my focus to collaging, and now ATCs.

With the inspiration of real life friends and online artists, I feel like I'm discovering whole new worlds of creativity that I never even knew were out there. I always looked at the scrapbooking section of the art/craft store with skepticism and fear. What in the world would I do with all those different kinds of paper?! (I still have that same fear of beads/jewelry making, by the way.) I now know that there's a limitless world of possibilities, and I think I'm starting to remember what it was like to create when I was younger. Fewer creative inhibitions and more exploration of possibilities.

I can't wait to see what's next!