
Drawing has always been my first love. Through the years I've
mastered oils, airbrush, acrylics, pastels and charcoal. The biggest
influences on my artwork were Dorris E. Wilson (mother), Steven
L.Wilson (brother), Demorris C. Smith (first cousin), Kay Clay
(high school art teacher), Akira Arita (college drawing instructor)
and the art of Norman Rockwell.
All
of these individuals drew and painted in realism. Since the age
of three, my favorite subject was people. Rockwell's art became
familiar to me when I was five years old. I loved seeing the magazine
covers he would paint for a periodical my mother received once
a month.
I
always wanted to master portraits. I remember drawing my first
self portrait at eleven years of age. In high school Mrs. Kay
Clay encouraged me to continue to polish my skills in drawing.
She encouraged me to continue working with the subjects and media
I enjoyed the most. and to submit a portfolio to the Rhode Island
School of Design where I was awarded a full scholarship. When
I entered college Akira Arita helped me take my drawing skill
to an entire new level. I know it was his instruction that lead
me to believe I had an extraordinary gift and he helped me begin
to perfect it.
It's
important to me that my work have a message. The women who are
present in my art are a symbol of everything that is beautiful
to me. Sometimes I'm not sure where my artwork is going. I know
that perfecting technique is very important to me.
As
long as God permits me to, I'll always create. Professionally,
I'm an illustrator/ graphic artist, but in my heart I know that
I'm a fine artist. Hmmmm...I guess I do know where my artwork
is going and I love it! |