
OUR HISTORY, OUR VOICES PROJECT
The Dorothy Verbick Exhibit
About Her Exhibit…
I am a middle school art teacher and a meditation/mindfulness practitioner. Before college, I had only taken an art class in elementary school. I doodled the comics (mostly Garfield), did NOT draw all the time, and did not have an encouraging family to support my art curiosity.
Somehow, I still went for it…. art school made sure to let me know how far behind in knowledge I was…especially during critique. :p I think it was just this year that I decided I would call myself an artist and I have been teaching art for ten years.
I am finally surrendering to themes reoccurring in my work… skulls, hearts, clouds, crows/birds, flowers, nature, any macabre. Some of these collections are my more recent doodles playing with gouache and watercolor, the Dollys are acrylic painting as I love painting portraits and the last is encaustic collage which I am wanting to explore more of. I just keep exploring materials.
I want to encourage people at every level to keep making even if you don’t see yourself as a maker, creative, or artist. It’s why I am an art teacher for life…to support others, live the process and try out lots of cool art supplies.

Click to view images at larger scale.
Connect with Dorothy Verbick »
Instagram: @drrtgrrl | Website: https://creatingmindfulness.com/
More Exhibits
The Jennifer MacIsaac Exhibit
I have always wanted to learn how to make jewelry, metalsmithing to be exact. During quarantine, I began to explore YouTube videos on the subject. I have been having a blast learning, and there is still so much I want to discover about this medium!
The Ashley Garner Exhibit
My submission was inspired by all the many ways over time I, like all women, just had to figure it out. As a result of figuring it out, I have built a successful custom painting and furniture restoration business (Nest) as well as a writing career, writing for The Dollywood Company, Knoxville Mom's, Her View From Home, and Today.com.
The Anna Montgomery Exhibit
I am inspired by everyday things, creative design, books, music, movies, growing things, and–most of all–people. People I know, people who lived long ago, and the people who now live only in my imagination, such as my grandparents or people I meet in books.