Jo Ann Brown-Scott

“Rimsky-Korsakov composed Scheherazade in 1888. The story framing his symphonic poem is from "Arabian Nights," a fairy tale of the beautiful Scheherazade, who told fascinating stories to the brutal Sultan to save her life. A violin tells many tales in its musical expression; the creative hours I have spent with this violin reflect a time in my life that I will never forget. In subtle ways, over a period of months as I worked on the violin, I realized it changed my life.”

Art has been the focus for Jo Ann Brown-Scott from as early as she can remember. Jo grew up in Ohio, attending the Dayton Art Institute at eight years old, later graduating with a BFA from the University of Colorado, emphasizing studio art. Her first breakthrough came when she was asked by the Evergreen, Colorado Chamber of Commerce to create an original painting from which the first Christmas in Evergreen limited edition posters and Christmas cards were printed. Her characteristic landscape art evolved to abstracted mixed media collage, color, pattern and texture the constant passion. “I have been influenced by the mixed media collage innovations of artists like Rauschenberg and Motherwell, plus the loose expressionism of Pat Steir. Occasionally, I go back to realism, portraying indigenous people. Interesting how things go in a lifetime art career – it is a mysterious adventure offering constant surprise if you allow it freedom to roam. Recent fascinations that scroll through my thoughts and spill their messages from mind to canvas include the concept of time’s passage, Africa and the primal simplicity of the days and nights of one’s life, after all triviality is stripped away. In a world of chaos and random events, the timeless ritual of art expression fascinates me and sustains me.” While exhibiting her art in Denver and throughout the West, Jo raised two children and held positions in marketing and teaching. In 2005 she remarried, became Brown-Scott and moved to Northern California. Since then she has published two nonfiction inspirational books. The second book, titled THE CREATIVE EPIPHANY- Gifted Minds, Grand Realizations, won Honored Finalist in the USA Book News Contest for 2009. For more information visit: www.tenspeedstudio.com and  www.epiphanysfriends.com.