Barbara
began teaching 20 years ago and designing 12 years ago, taking her first
acrylic classes with Phyllis Tilford, and began teaching sixteen years ago.
She has studied with many national and internationally-known artists. She
has taught adult education classes, at the Wood Shed in Medina, Countryside
Folk Art Studio in Strongsville, HOOT in 2005, and continues to teach at her
home studio. She taught at the mini-retreat in Warren, Ohio in 1999, 2000,
2001, 2002, 2005; at HOOT mini-convention in 2000. She taught at the Society
of Decorative Painters national convention in Charlotte, North Carolina in
May 2002. Barbara has taught at adult education classes, local shops,
various painting retreats and painting chapters, HOOT mini-convention, and
at the national conference of the Society of Decorative Painters.
She began designing about twelve years ago and
exhibited her pattern packets at the national convention in Nashville,
Phoenix, Wichita, Charlotte, and the heart of Ohio Tole (HOOT)
mini-convention in Columbus, Ohio. Her designs have been featured in
Painting Magazine, Quick and Easy Painting, PaintWorks, ToleWorld, the
Christmas ornament issue of PaintWorks, Craftworks, the Decorative Painter,
and Create and Decorate magazines. Barbara has been named to the 2004 & 2006
Directory of Traditional American Crafts by Early American Life Magazine.
The artists on this exclusive list represent the best ":for their finely
wrought skill" in telling wonderful stories with their reproduction artwork.
She has been commissioned by Colonial Williamsburg
to paint pieces which will be sold in the foundation's shops. Her passion
for Williamsburg enables her to add much love in her work for the colonial
capitol of Virginia.
Barbara was honored to have an ornament selected
for the official White House Christmas Tree in 2004 and had the honor of
meeting First Lady, Laura Bush, at a reception for the artists whose
ornaments were chosen. In 2005 Barbara painted an ornament to grace the
Christmas tree at the Library of Congress.
Barbara is a member of the National Society of Tole
and Decorative Painters, Decorative Arts Collection, Tole Painters of the
Western Reserve, Golden Triangle Decorative Painters, and the Ohio Arts and
Crafts Guild, where she is also a board member. She has exhibited at fine
art and craft shows in Ohio and Virginia for many years.
In addition to teaching and designing, Barbara was
instrumental in starting the Prayer Shawl Ministry at her parish. Shawls are
knitted or crocheted and donated to people who need to be "wrapped in the
arms of God".
