Mission Statement:
To support causes I believe in by using images I create to help raise other’s awareness, and to make my own financial contributions to my favorite organizations.  To thereby encourage others to support their own favorite causes.  To make a living doing art and art related things - to put myself through school and pay for art supplies with art earnings.

My causes and some favorite organizations include:
KIDS Place, a nationally accredited Children's Advocacy Center in Franklin, NC where I work as a therapist with children who have been abused and neglected and their families. 

WATR, The Watershed Association of the Tuckasegee River is a grassroots organization working to improve water quality and habitat of the Tuckasegee River .  Look them up at www.watr.org or contact them at info@watrnc.org or at P.O. Box 2593, Bryson City, NC 28713.  This organization protects the watershed of most of my water works that you see on my website. 

The Land Trust for the Little Tennessee at www.ltlt.org, is dedicated to conserving the waters, forests, farms, and heritage of the Upper Little Tennessee and Hiwassee River Valleys .  I hope to do a series involving the beautiful Little Tennessee River . 

The Chattooga Conservancy at www.chattoogariver.org, is a grassroots organization that formed in 1991 through the shared vision of a group of citizens who began contesting the Forest Service`s intensive logging and road-building program in the Chattooga watershed`s national forests.  One of my dream projects is to do a series based on the incredible rock and water formations of the Chattooga.  Lots of potholes and boulders in this riverbed.

P.A.W.S. (Placing Animals Within Society) is a volunteer driven, non-profit organization which seeks to eliminate companion animal suffering through population control, public education and ensuring that all animals are sheltered.  You may contact them at PO Box 1814 Bryson City, NC 28713.  I have donated cards printed from drawings of pets – mine and others: Penny, Bruno, Uma, Momo, Bastian, Kaytee are all hard at work earning money for the sheltering and welfare of other pets.

ARF (Jackson County Humane Society at www.a-r-f.org) is an all-volunteer, 501(c)3 non-profit corporation composed of a small group of volunteers who rescue animals from the shelter, the roads, and the community and keep them in their own homes.  Penny and Bruno cards have been used for a few years now to say ‘thank-you’ for helping and to raise money.

About the Artist:
Since Phyllis began studying and working seriously as an artist, she won second place in painting at the juried student art show at Western Carolina University in 2004 with a water study and has had 3 drawings included in student fine art publications.  Her first solo show was at Spring Street Cafe, in Sylva, NC in April 2006, entitled“Stream – Connotations”.  The paintings depicted many of her favorite water places in the Smokies.  

Her second solo show - Stream of Consciousness was held at the Nantahala Outdoor Center`s Relia`s Garden Restaurant in April and May 2007.  It depicted scenes from Kephart Prong, one of her favorite streams on the North Carolina side of the Smokies.  She worked at NOC for 10 years and the location of NOC next to the Nantahala River was ideal for showing her `water works`! 

Phyllis did a solo show at the Swain County Center for the Arts in Bryson City, NC in February and March of 2008.  The show opening was on February 17, 2008 at 4 pm, after a free concert by Frank Lee and Isaac Deal.  Phyllis was recently accepted into the Master of Fine Arts program at Western Carolina University and began her studies there in June 2007. 

Three river pieces were accepted in the Fragile Earth - Reflections on the Environment show at Western Carolina University Fine Art Museum!  The opening reception is on Sunday July 13, 2008 from 2-4 p.m.