About Me/Resume

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 for purchase at my home studio-Bella Bleu Art Studio and Gallery- or at Fine Art America.com. It can also be found in New Orleans, LA, at Adorn and Le Jardin on Royal St; the Artist's Market on Decatur; and seasonally at the New Orleans Pizza Kitchen.

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 the travel, business, and sports section. 


Resume
  
 WORK EXPERIENCE
·         2003-2004: Co-owner/curator/manager of Gulfport’s 13th Street Gallery
o   Duties included publicity; scheduling and hanging monthly featured-exhibits; exhibit setup; hospitality; visual merchandizing; sales; and web site setup and maintenance.
·         2008-present: Co-Owner “Bella Bleu Art Studio and Gallery LLC ” Gulfport.
o   In charge of gallery publicity (WLOX, regional newspapers and magazines) and gallery exhibit coordinator.
·         2003-2012: Guest lecturer, private art teacher to all ages.
·         Sold and exhibited in art festivals across the Gulf Coast.
·         2008-2009: Kelly Educational Services, substitute teacher services.
·         2009-2011: Art teacher at Bayou View Middle School in Gulfport, MS. 
          Sponsor of art club for 2 yrs.
                    Student tutor and state test proctor for 2 yrs.           
·         2011-12 Adjunct Professor, William Carey University, Art Appreciation 
·         2011-12 Private English tutor for William Carey students
·         2011-12 Freelance journalist for SunHerald newspaper of South MS.
·         2011 MS Gulf Coast Community College financial aid call center rep. 
         2011 MGCCC Youth Leadership Program Instructor under Deena Koontz

 GALLERY EXHIBITS 

2001 George Ohr Museum  “Jambalaya Room” exhibit with Biloxi Art Association, Biloxi, MS 

2002 Featured Artist of the month at Rasi Gallery in Tega Cay, South Carolina

2002 Negrottos Gallery, Biloxi, MS 

2002-2005 Serenity Gallery, Bay St. Louis, MS

2002 Mississippi Made Marketplace, Gulfport  
2002-2004 Coast Books, Gulfport 
2003 Featured artist of the month, “Once Upon a Time”, 13th St Gallery, Gulfport
2004 William Carey College, Sara Gillespie Gallery alumni exhibit, Gulfport
2004 13th St Gallery featured artist of the month exhibition, “Through the Mists of Time”
2004-present: Ongoing exhibits at Negrottos, MS Maritime Museum, Cardinal Flowers, and Caboose Galleries, as well as galleries in New Orleans, LA, such as Rougarou Bayou, Le Jardin, Adorn, and Artist’s Market.
2010-12: Featured artist of the month at the LA Pizza Kitchen on Decatur St. in NOLA
 2011: William Carey University Student and Faculty Exhibit William Carey's 250th birthday
2012: Featured artist at Off the Tracks Fine Art Exhibit in Wiggins, MS.
2012 Featured artist at CC's Coffee House in New Orleans, LA. 
2012: Compass Imaging featured artist

AWARDS
2002 honorable mention in William Carey College’s Annual Student Art Competition
2002, 2003 purchase award in Gulf Coast Art Association exhibit (GCAA)
2002 3rd place Fine Art award in GCAA exhibit
2004 1st place Fine Art award in GCAA exhibit
2006 honorable mention award in GCAA exhibit

ORGANIZATIONS

1998-present: Member of Gulf Coast, Pass Christian, Biloxi, and Ocean Springs Art Associations, and Gulf Coast Craftsman’s Guild
2004- Co-sponsor of Gulfport Human Society fundraiser at 13th St Gallery
2004- Children in the Arts Exhibit host at 13th St Gallery
2005 Co-sponsor of Tsunami Relief for Red Cross fundraiser

LECTURES 

2002 presentation to Coast Episcopal School, “Making a Living as an Artist” 

2002, 2003 guest speaker at GCAA

2005 guest speaker Pass Christian Art Association
2007-12 guest lecturer at WCU for Dr. Linda Mucha’s Curriculum for Artistic and Creative Gifted Students.

 

 

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