A Year of Adventure

“All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”

― J.R.R. Tolkien

When I chose to learn more about photography in 2008, my life changed, and I became more adventurous.  I am so grateful for the places and people my camera led me to experience.

Last summer, I started out on a new, exciting adventure.  That adventure was becoming a full-time student in the Fine Arts Department at Winthrop University.

I started out by taking one art history class during the summer.  This was an online class, and it let me know that I continued to enjoy learning.  After successful completion of that first class, I decided to attend the fall semester as a full-time student, going to campus each day of the week. I knew that by the end of the semester, I would know if this was a good match for me at this time in my life.  Here are some of the projects and assignments I  created in my first full semester.

After completing that semester, I knew I was in it for the full four years.  My second semester got me even more excited about this new adventure I was experiencing.  In my second semester, I stepped into a darkroom for the first time in my life.  It was absolutely exhilarating.  Here are some of the projects and assignments I created in my second semester of school.

I always begin a path with an expectation.  I did enter my new Winthrop experience with some expectations.  I expected to learn new ways to express myself creatively.  The experience certainly provided me with these new ways.

What I did not expect were the things I got from the experience.  First, I have really enjoyed creating with a more hands-on approach than I have used for my digital photographs and digital art.  As the world gets more reliant on everything that is digital, it is so refreshing to step away from that sometimes.

The most important thing I have gained from my time at Winthrop is being a part of a vibrant community.  I have been overwhelmed by the generosity of Winthrop’s faculty and staff in my learning journey.  Additionally, the thing I feared the most (acceptance from my very young peers) is one of the things that I love the most.  My talented peers (most in their late teens and early twenties) have accepted me in ways I never dreamed possible.  They inspire me and help me see the world in a different way.

I am so incredibly grateful for this great adventure in my life.  Each day it fills my life with joy.

For now, I will enjoy the things that summer break brings while looking forward to the 2026-2027 academic year.

Upcoming Offerings:

There is still time to join me this June for an online workshop about creating Personal Photography Projects.  I would love to have you join me in the Zoom classroom this June to get you started on creating your own personal projects.   You can use the link below to find out more information and to register:

Personal Projects Workshop