When I was around 10 or so I use to go to the Library and check out all the fairy tales and fable books. I think that I read every book available in the Liberal, Kansas Library. I use to dream about magical things and thought that someday I would be a part of something big.
Then I went off to college and got a BSE in Psychology, Education, Teaching, Special Ed. I also started on a LD degree but so wanted to marry my husband Joe that I wound it all up. I never did any art classes and never thought that I could draw.
I worked in the school system for a year, married Joe, and started reading art books. Joe got me started in glass and I taught myself how to draw and do glass. I started the glass in 1976. That's when I started to dream about being an artist and wanted to be able to put out the magical colors like the masters.
I've always thought that I would be famous. I'm not sure that I will ever get to that point but I certainly live the life of an artist! I feel it's more important that I concentrate on putting out good work and being happy rather than worrying about being famous. I don't have to read the books to dream or think of magical things anymore. I am blessed because I am living a dream of doing what I want to do.
Hi I'm steph brady. I'm the owner and artist at the green cat. My studio is located at 124 G. street, Salida, Colorado. I've always said the the universe revolves around G. street. I've been at this location for almost 7 years. But I've had a gallery on G. street for 11 years in Salida.
My gallery/studio includes the art of my husband Joe and my art. Joe does all the wood and the stone. I do all the glass, pastels, acrylics, oils, and beads. Joe started working in wood in the early 70's and then went on to do the stone in the late 80's. He found out that he loved working in stone because I asked him to put some fused glass into the stone.
I started doing glass in 1976, opened up a glass studio in 1979. I started doing the pastels, acrylics, oils in the late 80's. I have tried to merge what I do in glass to what I do on canvas. I'm starting to get there. It has been a challenge.
We bought our Colorado house in 1992. I went to town in Salida and started working with two other girls, Paulette Brodeur and Marcy in Salida. I then split from them and opened up my own gallery, the green cat a couple of years later. The two girls taught me a lot about the art business.
Being a gallery owner and a artists has been a challenging juggle. I have come a long way just by living and doing my art in Salida. There were a lot of us that came into Salida at the same time. We opened up our studios/galleries in the boarded downtown. The boards came off, the doors opened, and the art sifted into the mountain air. I started the Salida Artists later on so we could put our heads and our pockets together to advertise. We have all taught each of us to promote and be responsible artists by working together. Which was no easy task. A lot of us are women and artists. Trying to get us to make a decision is like trying to herd chickens.
Herding chickens and living the life of an artist in Salida has been a wonderful experience. Oh to dream the impossible dream!
Read more of Steph's musings, 1, 2, 3
