More about Me
If you've been to the main page of my website, you already know the basics about me: I'm an artist, art teacher, amateur genealogist, gardening enthusiast and animal lover in Virginia. I'm also an "INFP". But since you're here, I guess you're as curious about people as I am! |  |
When I was growing up, summer vacations meant traveling with my parents and staying in campgrounds. Our most frequent destination was coastal Maine, but the "road(s) less traveled" also led to most major historical sites up and down the East Coast, quaint villages, interesting people and stunning scenery. And yes, that's a sketchbook on my lap in the picture!
I'm a 1979 magna cum laude graduate of Bridgewater College in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, earning a BA in Studio Art and with electives in just about everything! To me, a liberal arts education is like a smorgasboard for the mind--I'm intensely curious, I've always loved to think, and I've always loved to learn.
College pics, featuring theatre and art--of course!
I worked in a therapeutic rec field with elderly and handicapped adults for four years after I graduated from college and it was a wonderfully rewarding experience. One Halloween, the residents and I wrote and acted in a short play and invited preschool children to the nursing facility to see it.
After my children were born, I stayed home until they were both in school. I did a LOT of commissioned artwork, designed and marketed cross-stitch kits (with retailers in three states), and first began learning about computers, while doing recordkeeping (from home) for small businesses. During this time I also went back to school to become licensed to teach Art in grades K-12.
I started working in a public elementary school in 1992, and since 1999 I've taught art at the private college-prep school where the movie "Toy Soldiers" was filmed! My 8th - 12th grade students are absolutely ART-RAGEOUS and it's such a joy to work with them! I also used to teach at a wonderful summer arts camp for younger kids.
I'm in partnership with several fine online stores, earning commissions from sales made through my website. If you regularly shop online, please bookmark my "cybermall" and do all of your online shopping right here!
I'm also blessed with a number of wonderful furkids.
I know I can't save them all, but too many wonderful--but unwanted--animals are dying in shelters. Fully one quarter of all abandoned cats and dogs are purebreds--including my favorites, Siamese. Rescue organizations do what they can, but there just aren't enough adopters or foster homes to deal with the number of animals who are abandoned each year. PLEASE spay or neuter your pets, make arrangements for your pets' continued care if they should survive you, and consider adopting a homeless cat or dog! Visit your local animal shelter or use the links below to find your new best "furriend"!
Petfinder.com
I enjoy gardening, digital photography, web design, writing, reading, genealogy research, and contra dancing and I can honestly say that I'm never, ever bored! Even if there's "nothing to do," there's always something to think about! I've always been drawn to eclectic spirituality and metaphysics...
...and experiences over the years
have greatly influenced the way that I view life....
“Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice,
he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring,
those ripples build a current that can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.”
~ Robert Kennedy
The following links will tell you even more!
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What I'm Reading & Watching
My favorite "I can buy ANYTHING here!" online store is Amazon.com.
Books, DVDs, CDs, electronics, clothing and more!
My favorite online clothing store is Blair. I've never been much of a "recreational" shopper (I go to the local mall maybe twice a year ... to set up and take down our school's artshow...) and Blair offers a convenient way to shop, great prices and quality clothing! Click the link below to see what I mean!
I bought a Fujifilm Finepix S5200 digital camera in January 2006. I have been so impressed with it and I've taken literally thousands of pictures with it! Here's a page that shows some of the camera's capabilities: S5200 Tutorial.
Since July 2000 I've used Dreamhost.com as my webhost and I highly recommend them! Enter promo code ARTRAGEOUS to receive a $25 discount on a 1-year "Crazy Domain Insane" hosting plan!
After years of having a contract plan for my cell phone, I switched to Virgin Mobile. Most months I make and receive very few cell phone calls, so this is saving me a lot of money. I use the Minute-2-Minute plan and usually just have to "top up" $15 every 3 months! Want to know more? Send me an email!
ART-RAGEOUS WEBSITE SEARCH ENGINE
sharon@art-rageous.net