Effingham Public Library is pleased to welcome local artist, Shelley Crouch.
Hi, I’m Shelley Crouch, an author and illustrator from Casey, IL, home of Big Things in a Small Town. My husband and I often come here to Effingham to play music and have attended several songwriter workshops in this wonderful library. I’m on the library board in Casey and I have always loved libraries.
I started painting four years ago at the age of 57, during the COVID quarantine after losing my mom. It was great therapy for me to get through a tough time.
I get most of my inspiration from nature, making many illustrations into a field guide of sorts for young children. I mostly paint in watercolor, but I’m exploring all different types of artistic expression.
I believe art is of great importance to a healthy society. For the creator it can be enjoyable and therapeutic to make art and can provide a way to express themselves. For the viewer, it can evoke many different feelings and emotions and it can create an awareness of different issues or cultures or ideas.
Shelley’s work will be showcased from June 3rd to July 31st.
