I’ve had the innate love of creating art since as far back as I can remember. My older sister teases me that I liked drawing so much, that when I was 3 years old, I climbed over her bed and ate her crayons that she had tried to hide from me. So, if I take my sister’s view on things, you could say that art is truly within me. This passion continued through the years landing me in the National Art Honor Society in high school where I helped organize and bring the Very Special Arts Festival to our county. I then volunteered with the event for 11 years after graduation.

I have had artwork hanging in England, Canada, Australia, and in over 7 states in the United States. I’ve also donated framed artwork and/or merchandise to the Annual Kristen D. Williams Memorial Golf Tournament, the American Red Cross Rhapsody in Red Charity Ball, District Conventions of the North Carolina Lions Club, and the Unionville Lions Club (of which I’m a member, Secretary, Communications Chair, and Peace Poster Chair). I currently have my artwork for sale in three area locations; 47K Marketplace in Monroe, NC; Eight Legs Gallery in Waxhaw, NC; and Mint Hill Arts Gallery in Mint Hill, NC.

Professional art background: I minored in art at Wingate University taking classes in painting, computer graphics, photography, and an independent study in drawing while studying aboard in London. Once out of college, I taught one year as a lateral entry elementary school art teacher at two local elementary schools. I also have experience instructing small groups of children, in an assortment of arts and crafts, outside of the school system. I’m currently a member of Guild of Charlotte Artists, Matthews Artist Guild, Mint Hill Arts, and the Piedmont Pastel Society. I am always learning new things and will update my LinkedIn page with current certifications, http://www.linkedin.com/in/alicatoriginals.

Artistic mediums of interest include graphite, colored pencil, oil pastel, soft pastel, marker, crayon, pen and ink, mixed media, acrylic, watercolor, computer graphics and photography.

Social Media Management is an extension of my artistic and digital arts endeavor. I am working on becoming certified in various areas of this genre to include inbound and outbound marketing, email funneling, and all aspects of the major social media frontrunners.