Jean Marie Thompson I am a trained artist and also self taught. I have been studying art since I was 9 years old. At that time I learned that my elementary school art teacher was accepting a handful of students for private instruction on weekends. I was passionate about art then and still am now. I convinced my parents to allow me to try out for the classes and to my delight, I was accepted into the classes. I studied under that teacher, Nancy Steinmetz, throughout my high school years. After high school I attended art workshops, studied with other artists and sometimes took private instruction. I've been a working artist, painting minature spincast lead soldiers in historical uniform for the highly valued Martin Richie copyrighted collection. I am also self taught. I enjoy dabbling in the arts and crafts also and have created jewelry, of which I've sold several pieces, and various other items such as handmade purses and flower arrangements. I'm 47 and a mother of four children and grandmother of four! I've worked as a Nurse for the past 15 years (and still do) and still find time to pursue my love of art. I hope you enjoy my paintings as much as I do. thanks for viewing.