Who are Your Artistic Mentors?

I have been blessed with some wonderful creative mentors in my life…mentors who lifted me up and allowed me to soar…

Dom and Jean Luc, the two French masters who taught me to see…they insisted that they never taught me to paint…gave me vision to out-dream even what my limited mind thought possible. i still hear their voices today saying, “thick and thin, dark and light!!!” meaning the push and pull of an artwork and of life…there is no positive space without negative space…no living without pain…no art without shadows…

Michael deMeng who compared my work to Marc Chagall and taught me to trust my instincts…you never know as a teacher what a remark will enable a student to do….

My Spiritual Director Sr. Eileen who encouraged me to fly into resistance with open arms…be true to my soul and spirit…accept who I was born to be…

All the beautiful women before me (my family) who encouraged a young dancer/writer/artist…who gave me the tools to be a strong and independent thinker…who helped me to grow wings and never be afraid to use them…

But mostly, I find role models in my students…who always open my eyes to something new and bring their experiences to blend with the other students and with mine to create an artful journey into the unknown… their sometimes stumbling, always fruitful, exploration without the pursuit of perfection (my one unbreakable rule)…the moment they meet and unite with their individual artistic voice and then find the trust to use that voice in their work is a powerful moment in time…allowing me to be a part of that journey brings a deep connection to my own art and visual voice again and again and again…