Why I decided To Spend So Much Money on Art Supplies The realization that I could draw came rather out of the blue when I was in grade 4, and decided to enter a local Historical Society art contest. I won, then promptly forgot about art for the next several years. I picked it up again in high school, but abandoned it in University. I was already majoring in Theatre, and art ‘crits’ in combination with drama ‘crits’ were more public criticism than I was comfortable with. It wasn’t until I moved back to Ottawa and was sub-letting an entirely pastel pink apartment, that the old urge to draw came back full force. I hate pink. I always have. My mother spent the first several years of my life dressing me in pink in the vain hope that people would recognize me as a girl. They didn’t. Again, I hate pink. Pink is the colour of grandma’s fuzzy slippers, Pepto Bismol and my nightmares. In order to survive the pink apartment I started collecting any large pieces of thick construction paper, masonite or whatever I could salvage from local recycling bins. I had a lot of crayons and pastels left over from a summer camp I had been running with a friend. I started compulsively drawing large and vibrantly colourful abstracted images, and leaning the drawings up against the walls. By the end of the sub-let, there was very little pink showing from behind my work. The original tenant was not thrilled, but as I pointed out, I could have done it directly on the walls and done us both a favour. It didn’t occur to me that my art was anything but pink therapy for a long time. Eventually after spending years pursuing various degrees, I became an art and drama teacher. I decided that I better broaden my artistic repertoire beyond pastel and crayon, so I started working with acrylic paint. I had always felt intimidated by paint, as I am a control freak, and paint (I find) is harder to control than a dryer medium. To my surprise, I took to it right away. My first experiment was the Evil Clown. Again, this was a form of therapy. I am as leery of clowns as I am/was of pink. Currently, I work mainly in paint, ink, and pastel. I do the odd bit of linocut and I enjoy making masks. I have come to terms with pink, and even use it in a not completely sarcastic way occasionally. I am an intermediate teacher in Ottawa who specializes in the visual arts. My art is for sale, and I do commissioned work. Currently, I work mainly in paint, ink, and pastel. I do the odd bit of linocut and I enjoy making masks.
 
 
 
Education University of Guelph; Theatre, Art (briefly), Anthropology University of Ottawa; Leisure Studies (that was a dare) Carleton University; MA Canadian Studies University of Ottawa; Teacher’s College Art Training The best technical training I ever had was at Carleton Place High School, with my art Guru, Brad Johns Art by Wenna