EXPERIENCE
August 2007 - December 2015 / Professional Artist / Toronto, ON
Private commissions
January 1999 - August 2007 / Professional Artist / Toronto, ON
Self employed registered small business.
Oil painting and pottery by commission for private patrons. Exhibiting art
in solo and group shows, studio tours and juried art competitions.
September 2003 - 2007 / Painting Instructor / Toronto, ON
Artist Studio ~ East end Toronto
Organizing, planning and teaching painting classes for adults and children.
September 1999 - 2004 / Pottery Instructor / Toronto, ON
Riverdale Farm Pottery Studio ~ City of Toronto Parks and Recreation
Organizing, planning and teaching pottery classes for adults and children. Expanded the program from
two classes to ten in three years of teaching to accommodate creative needs of the community.
May - September 2002 / Art as Therapy Workshop Instructor / Toronto, ON
Creative Force ~ Ontario Arts Council grant
Teaching art workshops to women in crisis connected with Sistering and the Inspirations Studio.
July - August 2001& 2002 / Art Workshop Instructor / Clay / Toronto, ON
Spiral Garden and Cosmic Bird Feeder ~ Bloorview MacMillan Centre
Clay workshop facilitator at outdoor art camp for kids with special needs
from the centre, integrated with able bodied kids from the community.
September 1999 - June 2000 / Creative Arts Instructor / Toronto, ON
My House School House
Taught preschool at an alternative Creative Arts School based on the Waldorf School philosophy.
March - May 2000 / Art as Therapy Workshop Instructor / Toronto, ON
Creative Force ~ Ontario Arts Council grant
Planned and facilitated painting and printmaking workshops at Herman House, a
women’s group home for psychiatric survivors.
September 1999 - May 2000 / Art as Therapy Workshop Instructor / Toronto, ON
Creative Force ~ Saint Michael’s Hospital
Planned and facilitated various types of art workshops with dialysis patients.
Organized, promoted and hung two exhibitions of students’ work.
January - April 1998 / President of the Fine Art Network / Guelph, ON
University of Guelph ~ Fine Art Program
Facilitated weekly meetings, lobbied for art students rights and opportunities. Organized a fine art exploration trip to New York City.
January - April 1997 / Art Workshop Facilitator / Guatemala, Central America
University of Guelph International Development Studies Semester Abroad
Planned and facilitated art workshops in Spanish in a Guatemalan primary school.
June 1993 & June 1995 / Art Camp Counsellor / Durham Region, ON
Durham Board of Education
Organized activities for art students ages 13-18. Supervised a cabin of twelve girls day and night.
January - December 1994 / Participatory Development Facilitator / Guyana, South America
Partner and Consultant of Participatory Research Associates (PRAxis)
Taught workshops on proposal writing, project budgets, planning and managing projects, conflict resolution, and project evaluation.
Lived and worked in remote Amerindian communities in Guyana. Trained interviewers, led community meetings, facilitated workshops and coordinated projects.
Used popular theatre, group discussions, and artistic aids to encourage people to take community initiatives into their own hands.
April - June 1993 / Youth Volunteer / Guyana, South America
Youth Challenge International
Worked with youth (18-25 years) on various community participatory projects in rural Guyana,
repairing a primary school and tagging sea turtles for an Audubon Society conservation project.
EDUCATION
September 1995 - December 1998 / University of Guelph / Guelph, ON
Honours B.A., Fine Art and International Development Studies
Graduated on Deans Honour Roll with ‘A’ average.
Received various scholarships/awards for academic achievement.
May - August 1998 / Pottery Apprenticeship / Harper, ON
Completed an intensive one on one pottery apprenticeship with a well known salt glaze potter in the Ottawa area. Briefly studied oxides and electric firing in London, ON.
INTERESTS
Oil painting, pottery and clay sculpting, beadwork, drama, running, swimming,
cycling, camping, gardening, language, teaching, travel.