My name is Cyndi McMurray. I have lived in New Orleans most of my life. Art has always been a part of my life as my grandfather had natural talent for painting, drawing, and craftsman.  And it was passed down to my mother.  I was about the age of 5 when my grandfather showed me how to draw using a grid and a cartoon from the newspaper, ever since then, I have been hooked.
 I have done Photography for the past 25 years. This is  basically self taught. I have done  weddings for friends and have had a few things published over the years. At this point in my life, I have been concentrating on my "Original Jeweled Head Art ." I start with a Styrofoam head and a character in mind. I then work through a closet filled with thousands of beads, sequins, material, trim, etc. Anything that can be pinned on.  My heads usually take 10- 20 hours to complete and app. 2500 to 4000 pins.  I usually come up with a name as I’m making them, but sometimes I have to wait until I'm finished to really look at it and then decide. 
  I’m a member of the CMA - Christian Motorcyclist Assoc.,  Abate of Louisiana - ( American Bikers Active Towards Education,  HOG - ( Harley Davidson Group), CAC - Contemporary Art Center in New Orleans, Folk Art Society, and a member of The River Region Art Association. I love Art! I love to make art, view it, study it. I get inspired through color, people,  garage sales, digging in piles of stuff! I see beauty in Nature, History, Culture, People, Animals, Life!  I’m so blessed and I know my inspiration is in my love for God, and my faith in Jesus Christ. And I know we all  have natural talents that are from God, I thank Him for mine.
 One of my best works (or my favorite) is the head titled "Pocahontas." I can't bring myself to sell her,  because she is so beautiful, she is in my collection.  My work can be seen at The River Region Art Gallery in Sorrento, also at Bergen Putman Gallery at  730 Royal St. In the French Quarter. I'm also on a new web site called : KatrinaArtist.com , the site is: http://www.katrinaartists.com/CyndiMcMurray/                                                          Also, on my web site  www.nita-zita.com

Artist of the month web page.