I am Thea McKay McElvy, a lifelong resident of the Chattahoochee Valley area. My family history is rich in artistic talent including a great-grandmother who was a prolific folk artist and a mother whose talent both entertained and inspired me. I think of myself as an artistic adventurer, and consider my most successful pieces to be fantastic layers of serendipity.
Pablo Picasso one said, “I am always doing that which I cannot do in order that I may learn how to do it.” The fact that I throw out directions and question my instructors has always amused my family but I enjoy being an original. I believe art happens, not when you are chasing perfection, but when you create with a smile on your face.
My art style is generally whimsical and full of color. I work in several mediums: paints, fiber arts, clay and beyond. Interactive art such as moving clay sculptures, quilts and kaleidoscopes are some of my passions.
For the past several years, I have been an art educator. As a member of the Alabama Art Educators Association, and participant in the Dana Foundation’s Rural Initiative Program, I am a strong advocate for art being included in school studies. From personal experience, I understand that some children learn best through creativity.
