Gail Schmidt is a Supporting Member of ZNE, she has been a member since April of 2006. Gail's work is an evolving mixed style of vintage, shabby, and victorian. Gail says that the words "lovely" and "pretty," are the two old fashioned words that are most often used when people compliment her work.
Gail lives in a beautiful Tennesee mountain valley. She lives in an old farmhouse built in 1924 which was physically moved to its present location in the 1940's. Since her family lives very rurally and she has no local art community, she has joined the online art community thru different art groups and through ZNE. Her hope is to not only build an online presence but a business as well. Gail lives with her husband, of 20+ years, a Dalmation and a rescued tabby kitty. Gail and her husband have no children, so her animals and her art are my kids. She spends most of her day in the art studio or working on the computer. She is an avid reader and she says that she is trying to be a gardener. She says that her family and her friends are her "treasured gifts."
Gail says her life as an artist began quite literally with paper and glue, working in paper mache. She sold her work in shops and art/craft shows. Gail says that she had a happy accidental meeting with a decorative painter and ended up spending 15 years as a working decorative artist. She had her own shop/studio where she sold hand painted items and taught adult decorative painting classes. A major move disrupted life as she knew it. Surprising everyone one who knew her, herself included, Gail's art life suddenly veered in a totally different direction. Gail discovered the world of mixed media, collage and altered art and became immediately and joyfully obsessed. So while she is relatively new to this particular world of art, and still has so much more to learn, she says she is "steaming full ahead with nary a glance behind." Gail continues, "I often feel that I have returned to my roots of paper and glue and as the McDonald's jingle says "I'm lovin' it!"." Gail also says that she is thrilled and excited to be a member of ZNE's Design Team along with so many other talented artitsts!
