ARTIST STATEMENT
I saw a humble, antique steam engine at a nearby train museum. It wore its history on its skin, like a loyal servant that had stories to tell. Rusting pockets of wear were produced by a life of creating history with busy people, and carrying valuable resources from the land.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Sonia Pratt, born and raised in North Central WV is a descendant of early European settlers to the region. Her father was a coal miner, as were many of her friends and relatives. Her mother worked as a store clerk. She studied Art and English at Fairmont State University and graduated with a BA in Education. She has traveled extensively through the US, Mexico, Europe and parts of Asia.
Her first job was a traveling art teacher in a remote area of West Virginia. Her experience was ultimately in clouded in the book Flower Teachers: stories for a New Generation by Candice Jesse Stout. She later spent thirty-three years as an award winning High School art teacher in Western, Maryland.
As a life long learner she has traveled and studied many forms of art throughout the US. She currently lives and maintains a studio in Western MD and exhibits her work throughout much of the US in national and international shows as well as several one person shows.
© Sonia Pratt