News

New York Shows
I had 2 solo shows in August, one at Volcano Editions in Oneonta and one at Nezuntoz (knees N toes) cafe in Binghamton which resulted in a few sales, and I have work currently hanging at the Cafe Connection in Norwich through December. I'm scheduled to hang work at the Bohemian Moon cafe in Norwich in January and will be hanging work at the Wachovia Office in Norwich which will hang from January until March.

Awards, Honors & Memberships
I won an award at the Chenango County Council of the Arts member show last month. Also, I was awarded a Strategic Opportunity Stipend from the New York Foundation for the Arts to help defray the cost of hanging the shows this summer AND, last but not least, I have been accepted into the NYFA MARK 09 program which will start at the end of January and run through June.

I am a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators.

Projects
Currently in progress is a picture book I've been working on for the past three years.   Tentatively titled If This Tree Could Talk, it tells some of the amazing 150 year history of the Brooks family farm, in relation to an ancient crab apple tree that grows in the front yard of the farm house. The illustrations are done in watercolor and ink and with them I've tried to capture the humor and charm of farm living.

Though I've not had anything formally published yet, I have been involved in art in many different capacities all of my life. This includes painting scenery for different productions when my daughters were small and in dance classes; providing my skills for several organizations in my community; teaching an informal art class for a local 4H program; face painting at events sponsored by my local library; painting outfield signs for our local little league; providing the artwork for a T shirt design for the St. Lawrence University "North Country Croquet Club and Mammal Watching Society;" I've even done a henna tattoo booth at several different after school prom parties in the past few years. I have done many commissioned pieces for several years including pet portraits, farm signs, and landscapes.

I have worked extensively in watercolor, colored pencil, pen and ink, and graphite, and these are my preferred mediums. I have, though, also worked in acrylics, pastels and oils. While a student at Hartwick, my concentrations were in drawing and printmaking, and I discovered that I really love to create etchings. I hope to some day continue experimenting and growing in this medium.