I'm thrilled to announce that I was selected to be the 2026 Azalea Festival Artist! What a dream come true!
My ties to the Azalea Festival go as far back as I can remember.
My parents used to take us to the Cooperative Bank building to watch the parade. They had a balcony that was a perfect spot to watch the parade.
I was an Azalea Belle in High School, which is now what they call Garden Ambassadors. This is sponsored by the Garden Club and was a fun way to connect with other highschoolers while posing as decorative additions to the garden. With my hoop skirt in the trunk, I remember driving myself downtown after my mom had to "stuff me in" the driver's seat with all the layers of lace and fabric.
My art piece will be used in a variety of ways to represent the festival. From turn and step banners to website and marketing, the image will be used in almost every area of the festival's branding.
The original piece has now been completed, but I'm going to take you behind-the-scenes to see how it started, the process of making it, and some glimpses of the final work.
