Spring Beauties
by Marsha Canterbury
Spring Beauties
officially began in March, 1981.
Marsha was inspired by her desire to create a profitable, in-home business
venture employing her many talents and interests.
Marsha first learned the art of metal sculpture from her aunt, Ms. Margaret
Owen. Margaret shared the knowledge and training of this craft under the
strict stipulation that this must remain a secret.
Once she mastered the basic skills, she began building on her knowledge and
botanical background. Marsha's creations soon took their own style and
personality to the point that now each artist's creations are quite unique
individual.
Spring Beauties features life-like recreations
of both cultivated flowers and native wildflowers, which are sculpted from
recycled aluminum printing plates. As their name imples, each unique creation is truly impressive in its
resemblance to a natural living flower. This is especially true considering the
medium that is used.
All of the flowers are sculpted from aluminum printing plates, which are obtained
from local print shops as scrap metal. Each leaf or petal is hand cut and
shaped. The flowers are then assembled, painted, detailed and mounted on bark,
in vases and pots, or structured into wall spray hangings.
Marsha lives with her 2 children, Anna and Jamie, in the beautiful
mountains of North Carolina in the Banner Elk community. Perched on the side
of a mountain, she overlooks the valleys and is surrounded by rhododenron,
mountain magnolias and mountain laurel.
Marsha graduated from Appalachian State University where she earned a
degree in their Naturalist program.
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