~*Tracy*~
A little about me...
I'm lucky that my mother is also an artist and made sure I always had art supplies of some sort. So I've been drawing or painting since I could smear fingerpaints around or hold a crayon. I won some blue ribbons in high school for my colored pencil and ink drawings (unfortunately those works had ''mysteriously disappeared'' when I went to collect them from my art teacher).
I'd say the theme of most all my artwork has been beautiful women in ornate costumes,especially women from other cultures and time eras. I'm reminded of a scene from the Anne Rice movie, ''Interview With The Vampire''...the young girl vampire is stealing a look at a beautiful women bathing and makes the statement,''I want to be her.'' This pretty much sums up my feelings about my work and why I was drawn to creating these costumed women. As they came into existence on my piece of paper, a little story would begin playing in my head of who she was, where she was, an entire little life and history being created as my pen and ink flowed. As an introverted and very shy only child, I spent most of my time reading books, writing or drawing. It makes sense they would intertwine. These creations were an escape, I was transported to another world and someone else for a moment.
I'm the little girl that really wanted to be a princess... and an artist and a writer.
May of 2005 was the first time I played with a torch. My mother taught me the basics of wrapping the glass around the mandrel and I took off from there. I would get an idea or image in my head and just do it. My mother was surprised at the quality of my work so early on but to me it just seemed to come naturally. I just do it. We all are given talents and gifts, you just have to find what it is.
I don't normally go around advertising my religion and beliefs because I don't want anyone to ever feel it's being pushed at them, I have a respect for all religions and yours may be different than mine. But, I have to thank God for giving me a gift. I had been praying for help in getting my life back together and being able to make an income to support myself. My Lampwork art isn't only about a way to make money though, that was never my motivation. It's wonderful therapy for my mind and soul.
I also want to thank everyone who admires my work, enjoys looking at it and takes the time to let me know. When someone buys a piece of my work, they're really getting a little part of me as well. That to me, is the best part about buying from a self-representing Lampwork artist...you're viewing that person's heart, soul and passion all in a tiny piece of glass you can hold in your hand.
~*Tracy*~
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