Looking for New Farms to Represent

As an agricultural advocate for farmers in South Jersey, I am always looking for new contacts and inspiration to photograph. I use the photographs to create original acrylic paintings and to ​promote the active agricultural community in southern New Jersey through sharing on social media and with farming agencies. You can see the collection of photographs I have taken by clicking here. If you are a farmer that would like to have your land, equipment, or operations photographed or created into a work of art, please click here to fill out the Farming Contact Form. The first 10 farmers to fill out the form will receive a free framed print (size and picture orientation is at the discretion of the artist) and a yearly calendar. All farmers will receive one free print and will be acknowledged when sharing online.

Scheese Farm, Friesburg, NJ

Wilson Brothers Farms, Daretown, NJ

Being the Child of an Entrepreneur

Today I wanted to reflect on my experience of being child of an entrepreneur and how that has helped me to realize my potential to be one as well. When I was growing up, my mom started her own candle business in the basement of our home.  When I would get home from school, I would help by wicking the candles for her to pour. Our house always smelt AMAZING. She was super busy with home parties and she would travel to Pennsylvania, Maryland, and all parts of New Jersey. As I grew older, I would accompany her on her home shows to help carry in the candles, set up, and check out customers.

As time went on she wanted a store front and I remember spending weekends with my family driving around and touring properties. When we found the perfect location, we spent the next year renovating the store and warehouse. It was so exciting to witness her opening day!

My brother, sister, and I learned so much about demolition, construction, and what it takes to make any dream a reality. A lot of parents encourage their children to be anything they want to be. But we grew up knowing we could be anything we set our minds and hands to.

Fast forward to the present and we all have followed our dreams with our own unique careers. My brother works on a professional drag racing team with aspirations of starting his own machining business. My sister is a skydive and wind tunnel instructor as well as a graphic design small business owner. And I am a certified art teacher and professional artist with my own business. I attribute our success and unique career choices to my parent's exposing us to the reality of the hard work that is required to make our dreams come true.

Were you a child of an entrepreneur? Did you also start your own business?

I'd love to hear your story!

FREE Reusable Calendar

Every year I would buy a magnetic calendar for my fridge. However, this year I couldn't find the primitive country style that I normally buy. I also realized that the calendars were often too small to fit all the details of our events. So I decided to make a reusable calendar that I can use year after year. 

Since I made one for myself I thought I would share it with YOU! Get a FREE Digital download of a reusable calendar. Choose from an 8" x 10" or 11" x 14" calendar that can be used as a dry erase calendar when mounted in a frame under glass. Attach magnets to your frame to display on your fridge for further versatility. Directions for printing below.

1. Click here and download the desired size.
2. The 8" x 10" file can be printed on a regular printer. Skip to direction 4
3. The 11" x 14" file needs to be printed on a wide format printer be the proper size. If you do not have such a printer, the file can be printed by Staples and picked
   (See the screen shots below for more detailed instructions)
1. Click here to go to the Staples website and choose their Engineer & Oversized Prints
2. Choose "Engineering Prints in B&W"
3. Click Upload > Choose the file > Click Upload > Click Done
4. Name the File and Change Quantities to "Quantity: 1 Pages: 1"
   (The price should default to $1.79)
5. Click "Special Instructions" and type" Please do not enlarge. File is a specific size: 14.5" x 11.5"
   (This will ensure the size will be printed correctly and the tech won't enlarge it)
6. Click "Add to Cart" and follow instructions for checkout
4. Cut along the light gray lines
5. Place your calendar print out inside a frame
6. Display on wall or glue magnets to the back of the frame to display on your fridge

1. Choose "Engineering and Oversized Prints"

2. Choose "Engineering Prints in B&W"

3. Click Upload > Choose the file > Click Upload

4. Click Done

5. Name the File and Change Quantities to "Quantity: 1 Pages: 1"

6. Click "Special Instructions" and type" Please do not enlarge. File is a specific size: 14.5" x 11.5"

(This will ensure the size will be printed correctly and the tech won't enlarge it)

New Painting Workshop: Saltbox Bucket on 1/27/18

Come paint a primitive saltbox house with a winter landscape on an oval burgundy bucket. Customize your house and door color as well as your composition. No experience necessary. All supplies are included. Bucket measures 10"l x 4.5"w x 4"h. Greenery not included.

Saturday, January 27th 12-3PM

Cost: $25

Studio Location

A Whole New Light

328 Harding Highway

Elmer, NJ 08318

To register, click here

Looking Ahead to 2018

It's always exciting starting a new year! After reflecting on the past year, it is natural to look ahead at the new possibilities to focus on as the new year begins. I have a lot of artistic plans and events for 2018 and thought I'd organize some my thoughts and ideas into a blog post to share with you.

I would like to continue to develop my acrylic painting portfolio in 2018. I plan to create paintings of vintage trucks, local landscapes, and depicting the various seasons we are so fortunate to experience. However, I also want to stretch my artistic muscles and explore different mediums as well.  This year I would like to revisit my original medium of choice: drawing. I thought a great way to do that is through a 30 day drawing challenge where I will create a drawing everyday for one month. I even thought I could share the process of the drawing challenge via social media live feeds. I am hoping it will provide me the opportunity to be more creative, fulfill my need to teach,  and reach a different audience that I have previously with my paintings.

I will be a participating artist in the 10th Annual Salem County Arts in Bloom Studio Tour. While I was reflecting where I was 10 years ago in my artistic career, I realized that it was at that time that I began studying to become an art educator. I decided to do a retrospective exhibition this year to provide the studio tour goers a look at where I started and how I have developed. I will have collections of drawings and paintings from college assignments as well as my first acrylic paintings that have not been on display before. I am really looking forward to putting this exhibition together to share with everyone!

This year I also plan to design a "Hometown Collection" of artwork and home goods featuring local towns and recognizable landmarks. My hope is to instill pride in local residents and to provide people who grew up here but have since moved the opportunity to reminisce. I am looking for input for my Hometown Collection of South Jersey Towns. To share your input and opinions on towns and landmarks I should include, please click here. I would greatly appreciate it! I plan to have the collection debut during the Arts in Bloom Studio Tour and then available online and locally at retail stores.

I am looking forward to 2018 and sharing my creations with you along the way. 

As always, thank you for your support!