The Principle of Me--An Artist and Teacher’s Perspective

 

I am an introverted extrovert.  Although this sounds like a contradiction, I appreciate the absurd beauty it holds in my life.  It has given me the unique ability of balancing well with others and myself. For example, I have been told “(I) always have the right words.”  Although that can’t possibly be true all the time, I enjoy encouraging and lifting up those around me.  Throughout my life I have found myself put into both the positions of "Artist" and of "Teacher":  I have done both professionally.  While doing illustrations for books I get to do both together.  When writing my own books and illustrating them, I get to do it all more fully.  We are only as strong as our weakest link and believing we can do something can be the difference between success and failure.  If I can encourage those around me to believe in themselves, than we have succeeded together. Whether that happens through my writings or my illustrations; it doesn't matter.  After all ~ one of my pictures is worth a thousand of my words.

 

I am also a problem solver by nature; creativity is my life’s blood.  This is partly because I like to think outside of the box to solve the problems that invariably arise in this journey we call life.  On the other hand, it is also because I like to create functional things that are also beautiful. Whether it’s the games I illustrated for my children’s different curriculums or the greenhouse and gardens I terraced into the yard of my hilltop home, I love the process of developing an idea until its completion. Fortunately, or unfortunately, not much is allowed to escape my creative process.  Except the passage of time; that defeats me. However, I am determined to go down in style.