Who is Cool Guitar Purse - un No. 20
Animal Theme Artist, Bobbye Edwards, is Busy Painting Pets!
Animal Theme Paintings are popular on our Violettes Guitar Purse, both for children and adults.
Our Butterfly Guitar Purse, Turtle Ukulele Purse and even bear, cat, raccoon, long horn cow and horse Guitar Purses are popular. And newest of all we have been painting pets from photos onto purses. The Violettes artist who specializes in animals is Bobbye Edwards. So get your Xmas order in now while Bobbye still has time, as she gets buried in holiday orders in November.Bobbye Edwards is the Resident Artist at Tea & Treasures in Knoxville, TN. She paints in several mediums, such as acrylics, enamels, and glass paint. Her copyrighted Personality Pigs appeared in the Knoxville News Sentinel, South Knoxville-Seymour Times, as well as the TV show Live at Five at 4.Her other projects include painted glassware, Xmas ornaments, slate tiles, Cup O' Art, canvases and photography. Bobbye specializes in one-of-a-kind items. She now enjoys painting one of a kind guitar purses and violin purses for Violettes by Becky.
1. Violettes: Tell us exactly how you taught yourself to paint!!!!
Bobbye: I have drawn since I was about 6 years old. I worked daily, learning through trial and error. I worked on art from elementary school thru high school.I mainly did fashion drawings in the 4 years of high school. I feel that my art education (per se) began when I went to work.I went to work in Display (as is was called then) at Miller's Department store, 3 days after I graduated from high school. I was very lucky that one of my teachers had set up an interview with the Vice President at Millers and I was hired. Everything I learned was through my work there. I developed techniques, colors and studied different mediums. I grew with the job and developed a technique of painting murals with sponges. I did all of the artwork for murals, shows and shops for the Display dept. I worked there for twelve and a half years, then went to work at Almart as display manager. (Almart, not Walmart, a store which no longer exists.) There, I learned a lot of building and creating techniques.In 1972 I went to work for Proffitt's Department Stores as Visual Director and worked there for 33 years. I worked with shops, fashion show sets and budget. Again, I learned as I grew. I used books and computers to learn, but no particular ones that I remember. I still have the collection of art books.Had I gone to college, I don't feel that I could have learned what I learned through I different jobs. Trial and error is a tough taskmaster, but it sticks with you. I have taken no art classes outside work.
2. Violettes: Do you have other hobbies?
Bobbye: Photography and cooking. I am an avid ice hockey fan.
3. Violettes: I know that you volunteer many places such as at the O'Conner Center, Vestal ... Tell us about all your volunteer activites.
Bobbye: I have volunteered with many organizations through the years, mainly Childrens hospital (fantasy of trees), Baptist Foundation fundraisers, UT fundraisers to name a few. I set up silent auctions to help make the items more appealing .
4. Violettes: You are a hard worker. Do you have children? You battled cancer. How long did you fight it before remission?
Bobbye: I have worked since I was 12 years old. I cannot imagine not working at something.I don't have children but raised 2 nephews who are now grown and have children.I am a breast cancer survivor and just reached 12 years in remission. My story is now posted in the South Knoxville Post Office.
5. Violettes: Are you from Tennessee? Where did you grow up. If you grew up in this area, what do you think is most strikingly different now.
Bobbye: I was born and raised in Knoxville. I love the Tennessee and Smoky Mountains and would not consider moving elsewhere, even the though I love travel. I have been to Europe, Chile, Mexico, and Canada, as well as a large part of the United States.I love the changes that have happened to Knoxville. South Knoxville in particular. I can't wait to see the South Waterfront finished.