​When January arrived, bringing 2022 with it, I had no idea what lay before me as an artist. Local artist Christina Rice and I were co-jurors for the Inaugural Portrait Artist Exhibit at 600 Broad. We curated a show featuring the works of many talented artists. The reception was packed with art lovers. It was a magical night. Christina and I stepped aside and chatted a bit. The idea of a future art show fell into our conversation, and after the reception was done and I was on my way home, I felt that things were about to get crazy. Little did I know how crazy it would be.

Looking back, it is truly a blur. Over the course of the year so far, I have participated in 7 group art shows, one of which was the Project Happy Water Fundraiser in March. To have been asked by Leonard Porkchop Zimmerman to join him in donating a piece of art for this project was the highlight of my art career to date. I can never thank him enough for asking me to be a part of such an important event! 

So what does this have to do with Prince, Brenda Lee, and Hulk Hogan?

A lot. I've still got art shows on the calendar that are coming up rather quickly. The next big thing is Back to the 80s on Broad which will celebrate all of what made the 80s great. Prince will be a part of that show. That reception will happen on Friday, September 2 at 600 Broad in downtown Augusta. 

As for Brenda Lee and Hulk Hogan, the two pieces currently sharing time on my easel, they will be a part of my upcoming solo art show at Augusta & Co. I'm so thrilled to announce that the show Voices of Augusta will open on Friday, January 6, 2023 with a reception and festivities! The show will feature original interpretations of famous faces from Augusta. There will be 9 portraits in this show, ranging in size from 12x12 up to 24x48. I hope you will mark your calendar and keep an eye out for news as time marches closer.

Oh,  yeah, and there are even more shows coming up after that. Can I retire yet? HA!

Till next time...peace, love, and guitar strings!

Tonight was the first meeting of the Slaton Street Task Force. I am so honored to have been chosen by the Greater Augusta Arts Council to take part in this special project. The focus of this task force is to find a space in Augusta for artists, musicians, dancers, and theatre groups to practice their art. Stay tuned over the next several months for updates. 

In April of this year, I saw a juried call for art. It was a mysterious call with 6 separate prompts. I chose one of the prompts, painted a piece using the three words given, and submitted it by the deadline. Joyfully, the piece was accepted and will be on the wall for this art reception! Make plans to join me at 600 Broad on Friday, June 3 for Chaos Organized. The reception starts at 7 p.m. and is sure to be a phantasmagoric experience. Below is my accepted piece. I call it 8 of Memory. See if you can find the three prompts!

On the afternoon of Monday, April 18, 2022, I signed a contract and left five pieces of art with the lovely owners of Art on Broad. This was a years-long dream come true for me. Since I began making and selling art in 2018, my wish to join local artists on the walls of this gallery became an all-consuming obsession. With each piece I've made, I've visualized making my dream come true. Many, many thanks to Kristin Varn for accepting me and my work into the Art on Broad family. So honored and humbled! Visit Art on Broad at their Facebook page HERE!

On the evening of Thursday, April 7, 2022, I sat down with author Charles Campbell and makeup artist extraordinaire Alayna Morales to record an episode for their Horror 421 podcast. Wow, that was a fun experience! I bared my soul and shared some secrets that not many people know about me and the life I have lived. It was a great pleasure to talk art, writing and the creative process with my extremely talented friends. As soon as the podcast is released, I will share the link. For now, go see what Charles and Alayna have been up to here!

On Friday night, April 1, Melissa Coffey and I hosted Gone at 600 Broad in downtown Augusta, Georgia. The weather was beautiful and the setting perfect for a night of reflecting on love and loss, pain and recovery, angst and redemption. Over 70 pieces of art graced the walls as Aiken, SC songstress Cathy Benedetto played guitar and sang her incredible original tunes. My husband Dean contributed two works with my assistance, expressing his recent disabilities. I was so proud of his courage as he explained his paintings to those who assembled, sharing his story and gaining confidence along the way. Regina Brejda at 4P Studios always puts on an amazing show and Gone was no exception. The art will be on display through April. Contact Regina at 706-267-6724 to schedule an appointment!

On Thursday, March 24, Project Happy Water kicked off their first fundraiser, High Water, which featured an art auction to support the renovation and painting of the J.B. White's water tower on top of the White's building on Broad Street in downtown Augusta. 19 artists donated their work and all proceeds went toward the effort. I was thrilled to discover that my painting was in a bit of a bidding war. The event raised over $11,000!  Needless to say, the party was a smash hit. Over 300 people attended and two DJs kept the platters spinning with great music. So excited to see the community come together to support artist Leonard Porkchop Zimmerman's long-time dream of painting that tower with his HAPPY robot. Never heard of Porkchop? Lemme introduce you to him here!​