The Face Behind the Artwork

In honor of their recent Artist Appreciation Month I was recently contacted by the wonderful people at www.patiencebrewster.com for an artist's interview.  It has been a delight and a privilege to network with this company and to learn about one another.  The interview is as follows:

Q:  As a child, do you recall a significant moment when you felt truly affected by any particular artwork or artist?
A:  As a child, my dad would sometimes take our family, after church, to The Museum of Fine Arts in Houston.  Going to church downtown was his excuse to visit the museum.  My dad was a trained sign painter/artist and painted signs all over Houston in the 1960's. 

 The church we'd go to is the Sacred Heart Co-Cathedral way before it was remodeled, which took away all of it's old-world charm.  The church held magnificent stained glass windows and an ornate altarpiece with hand-carved details and very high ceilings.  The atmosphere in the church was reverential and solemn and my senses absorbed it like a sponge.  Afterwards, at the museum, I would feel as though I was in a great mansion with marble floors and staircases.  The entire environment was in great contrast to ours at home.  Home was a two bedroom house, about the size of a small trailer home with a banana tree near the bathroom window.  In the museum we would walk past the Fredric Remington's.  I disliked those paintings so much with all of their violence of war and guns not to mention the horror in the faces of the cowboys and Indians.  The horses looked to be frightened and I felt sorry for them.  They did nothing for my child's imagination.  One year, there was a display of Christmas trees from around the world, one of which was an aluminum tree which fascinated me.  I also thought that the over sized mobiles were silly.  

One day, I wandered into my dad's workshop/garage and watched as he plumb lined a board for a sign.  It looked like fun, watching the blue chalk scatter as he plucked the line.  I also learned about silk screening and how he used it to make our Christmas cards.  It was my dad showing me how his mind worked creatively, and it was him at his best.
Q:  As an artist, what do you hope to convey with your work?
A:  With my artwork, I hope to convey something of mystery, beauty and spirit-filled emotion.  I want my art to touch people on a deep level and to possibly change our culture for the better.
Q:  What memorable responses have you had to your work?
A:   I created a very bright, colorful and free form watercolor of some green apples for a client.  He had an emotional reaction including tears in his eyes and he was speechless for a minute or two.  I didn't understand what was happening at first, but I knew from then on that my art was capable of touching people on a deep level.
Q:  What is your dream project?
A:  I suppose if I had to choose one it would be a series of mixed media paintings which reflect weathered and worn surfaces.  
Q:  What artists, of any medium, do you admire?
A:  Being capable of multiple disciplines, there are many artists whom I admire.  Among them are Laurie Wohl-fiber art; Chiyori Filion, Tom Lynch, Birgit O'Connor-watercolor; Carol Staub, collage; Cary Henrie- fine art; Julie Pritchard and Chris Cozen-art instruction; Don Li-Leger-fine art.
Q:  Describe a real life situation that inspired a particular piece of your artwork.
A:  At the age of 19, I found myself homeless, living out of my car for at least two years and squatting for another year or so.  
  It was during these years that I turned to the Bible and sought wisdom and guidance.  I learned that "The Lord is my refuge."  This experience is reflected in my newest painting entitled, "Where is Home?"