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verlie murphy biography
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[Biography] [Gallery]
Lived: - present
GAP Member Since: 2004-05-10
Type: Papercuttings
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90 West Fork Creek Road
Saluda NC 28773
USA
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Tree Angels
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I began papercutting to find unique patterns for quilts in 1995.
The lack of time for sewing (I was raising a family) kept me from
accomplishing my quilt ideas but I was compelled to make art to
balance my life. I began to cut many different stencils and color
them with colored pens. Eventually my two step-granddaughters
introduced me to Gelpens and from that point on I was fascinated
with how each stencil became a beautiful work of art. In time I
taught this “Kaleidoscopic” artform to others and the joy they
experienced in making these unique colorful pieces just fed my
desire to teach even more people. Some of my artwork came from
randomly cutting shapes that came together in other Gelpen drawings
that were not necessarily symmetrical when finished. Seeing the
stencil and then adding matching lines fueled my imagination and
love for pattern with color.
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For imagery, I utilize birds (they symbolize my free spirit) and
trees (are important to me because of my strong connection with
drawing nature to survive poverty and numerous childhood moves
before graduating high school). As a child I expressed myself by
drawing what I could see and taking comfort from my imagination
and the nature around me.
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Animal World
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Dolphins Paradise
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In 2000, while my late husband was recuperating from a liver
transplant, I would spend hours on these designs because I could
put them down and pick them up again easily. By June of 2001 I found
myself at his bedside for thirty days and while some would have read
I drew my designs to keep myself busy. To cope with his death, in July
of that year, I actually ‘froze’ up my back muscles by doing too many
pieces (live and learn). The following year I was invited back to the
hospital to work with the art therapist and staff to use this design
process to help the children express themselves artistically during
their hospital stay. Because Gelpens wash off the skin, it was a safe
project for the children to do in bed.
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I have done workshops in various schools and now some teachers are
using the process for geometry classes. While in Michigan I was able to
work with mentally and physically challenged individuals who succeeded
‘in their own eyes’ to do work they were very proud of and even won
ribbons in the local fair! They were so proud! Some people who suffer
from conditions like panic attacks have ‘lost themselves’ in kaleidoscopic
work to minimize their fears and, last but not least, one woman took my
ideas to work with children with ADD.
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Birds, Bears, and Fish
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Circus
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Some of my former work is signed White¬Hernandez, but after a 38 year
separation! was reunited with my high school sweetheart and we were
married in April of last year. My life is a pure joy in the Smokey
Mountains and I can finally pursue my art full-time. I came to know
about the Guild when I took a class with Gudren Wittgen. At that time
I owned a gallery in Manistee and Gudy visited my gallery before she
went home. Gudy was so fascinated with my papercuts as artwork that
she paid my dues that year and I am very grateful to her for her
support and kindness.
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references
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