Serengeti Elephant grazing and cooling down. Print

I am inspired to paint and create mixed media art from instinct, nature, and innate intuition as I am a self-taught expressive abstract artist. My great grandfather Vito Messina was a painter from Sicily, who painted seascapes and landscapes. Because he passed away in 1965, I never met him, but have been inspired to paint by the few paintings I cherish of his. I am fortunate to still have relatives in Castellammare Del Golfo, Sicily and have been able to visit this beautiful port town and see where he grew up. I don't mimic nature or the world around, but create art from color, feeling, or image that inspires me. I enjoy pushing the concept abstractly see where it takes me, as my brain is curious and likes to be surprised with many textures and materials. I've been creating art since 1970’s when I was introduced to it by my beloved middle school art teacher “Val”, peace be with her. Having grown up in a rural town in Michigan and raised on a small farm /garden, I was not exposed to much art culture. I relished art classes as a kid, however, did not believe I could support myself as an artist; I put myself through college and graduate school as an Advanced Nurse Practitioner until I had to medically retire, after almost 30 years. I also served in the US Air Force. After retiring and healing by body and soul; this has led me to pick up my paints and brushes to create Art again. It’s never too late to follow your passion as I truly love art and artists. I love to get my hands dirty so join my journey and passion of painting and creating art, pushing the colors around the canvas. As I want to support the environment, wildlife, and humanity. Furthermore, I question the balance of using ready made resources vs natural or re-usable/seconds materials and this is the vision for my creative path in the future.