Artists Corner: Isabel Aarons

Between the Carrollwood Cultural Center and the Life Enrichment Center, one thing is clear:

North Tampa is a community full of talented artists.

We recently talked to one named Isabel Aarons, whose work has been shown at the LEC, about how she got her start and how the community can see her work.

Patch: How did you get started as an artist?

Aarons: This goes way back from when I was a little girl. You couldn't leave a stray piece of paper around the house, as I would be drawing constantly. I wanted to go to art school after I graduated High School, in Canada, Vancouver, British Columbia. 

However, my father, who was my financier, decided that he would rather pay tuition at the university instead of art school   This set me up for determining to do as much art work as I could.  I took a lot of classes at night, when I wasn't working, and when I retired, I decided that my main purpose  in life was to do art wwork.

Patch: Who or what influences you?

Aarons: My favorite art form was the impressionist painters from France.  I still take classes, and my two favorite teachers here in Tampa are Harvey Berman and Mary Ann DiNella.

Patch: What are misconceptions that people have about artists?

Aarons: It seems to me that people think we're like hippies who are unconventional and sloppy, and are not very savvy about money.

Patch: What do you think your artwork says about you?

Aarons: I think that my artwork says about me that I love what I am doing, and it shows in my work. I'm very colorful, I love to do all forms of art, such as  oil painting, acrylic painting, colored pencils, watercolor. My subject matter is everything. Seascaptes, landscapes, people and animals. Everything is fair game.

Patch: How can people view your work? 

Aarons: As for viewing my work, I do put my work out for display at local libraries, Aston Gardens (a senior living facility) and shows, outdoor and indoor. 

If you know a local artist who you think should be profiled in Artists Corner, email us at camille.spencer@patch.com.