This exhibit titled Words AND Pictures is a declaration of words and a snapshot of pictures that portray my journey as an artist over this last year. The show invites the viewer to connect more deeply with my art through a dialogue of words and pictures.

Words AND Pictures on display at my studio.

While it is true that I am a painter—a visual artist—I have also written for more than 20 years. I have written about my work: many of my paintings have a narrative sensibility in that there is an underlying story behind the imagery. I have written story after story and have dreamed of publishing books. In the same way that it took me years to verbally acknowledge that I was an artist—all the while knowing I was—it has taken me years to admit I'm a writer too.

Today, I gratefully acknowledge I create with words AND pictures. Words communicate one way and pictures another. It’s intoxicating when I wed words and pictures, but I am even more invigorated when given the opportunity to share the final creation.

My grappling with life leads to resolution that demands an outlet. What I have known for most of my creative life is, I create to communicate.

While tucking in my daughter, when she was very little, she wanted extra hugs and kisses. Once she said, “Mommy, one just isn’t enough.” I always want my artwork to stand in and of itself, but for my expressive heart, sometimes the picture alone isn’t enough.

I have heard it said that a gift is not a gift until you give it away; my internal creative concepts needs to be be shared for those who might receive them as a blessing. To publicly facilitate that I stop hiding and force myself to develop my writing, in January 2014 I began my blog Uncovered. I have written, written, and written some more, but not all on my blog.

For teaching requests, I developed material based on paintings that were wrestled-out through the contending with the challenges of life. While it took far more time and energy than I could have imagined, I loved reading, writing, researching, arranging, editing, teaching, and presenting my material. I realized that this year, I have written more than I have painted. Because of this transition, I changed the name of my studio to Angel Ambrose Fine Art Studio and Creative Space to more accurately reflect what I give my time, talent and treasures to. It has been an exhilarating and challenging year with the shift of my focus.

Life is an adventure well worth living, especially when I surrender to walking life anew by exploring exciting new pathways. Welcome to Words AND Pictures.