Barbara's Art Page

My art has always been "dragon rich", even before I accepted that I was an "artist" (though I do remember that there was a strong dinosaur element in there, somewhere...). Mostly self taught, I started working in "sculpture" at age 10 - "monsters" (which even then had a strong dragon element to them) made out of colored telephone wire. I made many and played with most of them until they wore out - usually driving my parents nuts at the same time!

I love doing things with my hands: macramé, beading, sewing, knitting - but it took a chance comment by one of my family on how to do some shading that opened the door on both some unexpected talent and a way of bringing my "inner world" to life.

The move to more substantial sculpture was, initially, a response to necessity. Since my favorite topic is dragons, and since it is DIFFICULT to get a dragon to pose (!), I had to sculpt the critters before I could draw them. It didn't take long for me to drop the 2nd step and start perfecting my sculptures.

There is something almost... therapeutic about working in clay, or sculpy. To mold and squeeze and manipulate the medium into something that grows before your eyes has a magic feeling to it. Something now exists that didn't before. Something that you can reach out and touch, that has substance under your fingers. Something that you can walk around and see new facets of with each step. Something that holds its own and says "I am..."

And, I have moved in on the subject from a slightly different angle, as well. I believe that every creature's life and beliefs can be reflected in their face, and dragons are no exception. Graceful and aloof, proud and strong, gentle and kind, all this can be shown in a dragon's "portrait". Added to all this is the infinite variety of dragon "ornaments" - horns, vanes, frills - all adding to a dragon bust's individuality. And, I have had GREAT fun trying them all out! As with all artists, though, my art remains a "work in progress", and I have no intention of stopping at this point.

I have displayed my art at Science Fiction conventions & Art Shows in Oregon and Washington; as well as the local County Fair (where I have won ribbons for my work).

Most of the work I have sold at this time are in private collections

I was born in 1953 in Stockton, California, and moved to Oregon in 1964. I have lived in Eugene, Oregon, since 1973. I am married, with 2 children. I have been an R.N. since 1992, currently as a psychiatric nurse in a local "step-down" unit. Among my other interests are Plate Techtonics, Paleontology, Science Fiction, and Fantasy.

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