Crystal began her Art career in the Publishing field doing graphic design, illustration and art
direction. This included working for Baltimore Magazine, Ziff-Davis Publishing - PC Tech Journal,
The Baltimore Sun Papers, along with a national Menswear company creating ads for GQ magazine.
Crystal's pen and ink editorial illustrations have appeared in both magazine and newspapers.
Back in the Ice Age when the graphic design world switched to computer generated images...
Crystal decided to put a brush in her hand instead of a mouse. While painting for most of the malls in the Baltimore-DC metro area, the work included creating backdrops for special events, seasonal décor, props for store windows and merchandising products. Her creativity then expanded to decorative painting in client's homes, model homes, and for commercial businesses. Crystal has executed realistic murals, children's fantasy rooms, faux finishes, trompe L'oeil and portraits. Crystal chose to make each work uniquly personal to the client and received great enjoyment from putting smiles on the faces of children and adults. There is great satisfaction from hearing years later how much her artwork continues to please the owners!
The Artist creating the national award-winning Hot Spring Spa Mood Room
Crystal's murals in "Pools and Spas Unlimited" in Delaware, contributed to the company winning the national award for the 'Number One Hot Spring Spa Showroom' in the entire United States! One day Crystal met the man who bought one of the 'Baltimore Symphony Decorators Showhouse' manor homes in which she had created a hand painted room. The gentleman proceeded to explain to Crystal that her room design was one of two rooms he loved and did NOT paint over! Whew!
Along the way Crystal has painted for some local and nationally known celebrities, including creating a few backdrops for television programs. Out of 15 competing artists, Crystal received the honor of winning the design competition for painting the Children's mural in the Emmitsburg Public Library. Her proposal contained a dozen life size characters and multiple symbols of classic fairy tales on two large walls. Crystal's volunteer artwork can be seen in three exhibits at the "Bear Branch Nature Center" in Westminster, Maryland.
Now the kindly dubbed "Painting Queen," has changed her mind about "The Mouse!" A lady can do that of course! Recently Crystal has been absorbing computer software as quickly as in "The Matrix," and now views it as another creative tool. Currently working directly in her home studio Crystal can paint with old fashion brushes or computer generated brushes when the muse calls to her. All manner of Creation is at her fingertips! No longer having to drive 3 hours a day to paint on location, she can concentrate on her own personal Crystal Vision and expand her creativity in all directions. Very exciting times my friends!
Crystal was a featured artist on Maryland Public Television's "Artworks" series in July, 2004, featuring her Emmitsburg Public Library mural. The mural and Crystal were also the subject of a special on the Frederick Cable TV program "Bookends."
"Evening at Library More than Books" by Eric Slagle (photos by Sam Yu), The News Post Sunday Special Pullout section, March 28 2004.
"Community Center Opens" by Sean Barry (photo by Bill Green), The News Post Region section, February 8, 2004.
"Emmitsburg Library Celebrates Renovation" by Susan Allen (photos by Raymond Bucheister), The Emmitsburg Dispatch, February 2004.
"Dream Home" by Marie Gullard (photos by Karl Merton Ferron), The Baltimore Sun Real Estate section, March 9, 2003.
"Showtime for Show House - Local Artist Featured at Annual Fund-raiser" by Greg Koren, Carroll County Times, Sunday Feature pullout section, April 20, 1997.
"Transformation - Local Artist Designs Room in Symphony Decorators Show House" by Greg Koren, Carroll County Times, Sunday Feature section, March 23, 1997.
"Painting the Scene in New Windsor" By Greg Koren (photo Stephen Cherry), Carroll County Times Neighborhoods section, December 21, 1995.
"Adding a Touch of Art Naturally - Volunteers Lend Their Talent to Bear Branch Nature Center" by Corene Dee Bruce (photos by Stephen Cherry), Carroll County Times, November 1, 1995.
"Artists' Work Opens Windows on Natural World" by Ellie Baublitz (photo by Mike Lutzky), The Baltimore Sun (Carroll County edition), October 1995.
An MPT cameraman tapes the library mural for "Artworks."
Crystal lives in the country overlooking the Blue Ridge mountains with her musician husband Ben. A working team supportive of each others' creative endeavors, their cottage is a sanctuary of love, peace and harmony. All things are possible within their Universe!
