Painting: Pop Art & Rock Stars:

I have a deep connection to music, and rock music in particular. I collect vintage vinyl and Beatles memorabilia (ask me anything about The Fab Four) . I have a particular adoration for 1970s punk and glam. and I have played an assortment of electric and acoustic guitars for over 25 years. The 930 Club feels like home to me. Live, loud music brings me deep comfort. It is my other artistic outlet and indulgence.

I paint portraits of my favorite rock and pop stars surrounded by symbols and lyrics from their catalog. I listen to the subject's music while I work and include lyrics and lines as I hear them. I use traditional underpainting/ layered painting techniques on the portrait itself, while the background lyrics tend to be more free-form and impulsive. I will then revisit and refine the background, sometimes adding small illustrations.

Johannes Vermeer is a major influence on my painting goals (of which, I will never reach!).

Ceramics:

Hood College MA Ceramics Candidate, “Life Cycles”

Biography and Education

Catherine attended Frederick Community College as an Art Major from 2001-2005, then transferred to Towson University to pursue Art Education. While at Towson, Catherine focused on Drawing and Painting and secondary education. After graduating Summa cum Laude in 2008, Catherine was hired as an art teacher at Urbana Middle School in FCPS Maryland.

In 2009, Catherine began teaching adapted art at Rock Creek School, a 3-21 special education school in FCPS. Catherine developed the adapted art curriculum for the program and acted as consultant to all art teachers in FCPS on adapting art for all learners, including annual workshops for new hires. Catherine began pursuing a Masters in Special Education at Hood College in 2011.

In 2014, Catherine returned to Urbana Middle School as an art teacher, and completed a MS in Curriculum and Instruction: Special Education in 2015. Her capstone project used classroom-based action research on management strategies in the art studio environment to specifically increase artistic production and engagement from ADHD students with 504 plans in art class.

In 2016, Catherine began incorporating ceramics into her art units and lessons and taught herself how to fire an electric kiln by reading the instruction and safety manual cover to cover. After teaching ceramics to students for a few years, Catherine decided to pursue ceramics as both an individual artist and teacher. Thankfully, she began taking graduate Ceramics courses at Hood College in 2018. In 2023, Catherine began teaching Ceramics full time at Urbana High School.

Catherine will complete her MA in Ceramics from Hood College in Spring 2025, with her final show scheduled for Spring 2026 at Hood College.