New Orleans Art Exhibit

In June I was the featured artist of the month at the Louisiana Pizza Kitchen in the Big Easy, right across the street from the French market.
This exhibit featured my fantasy art, including medieval ladies, mermaids, and fairies. I show at the Pizza Kitchen once or twice a year, and this exhibit has been my most successful yet. I sold two 8x10'' and one 36x48" painting!

Tradition Commission

One of my summer painting class students was selected to create the Santini's menu board for the restaurant at Tradition Village, William Carey University's neighbor! 

Here she is putting those design and typography skills to use!

Summer painting class

I taught a mini-term painting class at William Carey University this summer. I assigned the students a still life and portrait painting, then gave them the opportunity to choose their own subject matter for the final project.
We had an amazing experience and I was overwhelmed by the energy and creativity of my class. 
The last day of class, we made our classroom into a studio and held an open house. My students passed out beautiful hand-painted invitations to other students and faculty, who were amazed by their works.
See for yourself...

Flora Debevec's "New Orleans Flora," a mixed media on canvas.

Anne Besse's "Anne Rice Still Life."

Portrait by Iris Watson.

Portrait by Danna Bickford.

Students tell visitors about their work.

 

Kid's College

This summer I took part in Kid's College at MS Gulf Coast Community College, Perkinston and JD campuses. My sessions were an hour-and-a-half each day, and each session started with a PowerPoint on an artist or artistic style. Over the course of the week, we made paintings, pastel drawings, collages, and tie-dyed t-shirts on the last day.

JD Campus kids in June painting in the style of 1960s Pop artists on "Groovy Art Day."

July's art camp at Perk. 
After learning about Seurat, the kids are working on a a pointillist painting using cu-tips to make their dots in paint.   

About Me

 I am an artist, writer/journalist, and art educator from Gulfport, MS.

I have a Master's Degree in both art education and English from William Carey University in Biloxi, MS.

I currently teach art appreciation and art studio classes at William Carey and MS Gulf Coast Community College. I frequently instruct art adult education classes, youth leadership workshops, and children's art classes through the college.

My paintings are available at my home studio, Bella Bleu Art Studio and Gallery, or at Fine Art America.com. 

I am a freelance journalist and photographer for The Sun Herald. I most often write about  the arts scene in my hometown, but often write for travel, business, and sports.