Hello, my name is Monica Cervone McElwain, I have recently moved back to Pittsburgh Pennsylvania from Denver Colorado where I took a personal leave from teaching. While in Colorado, I explored my work themes, enjoyed the mountain surroundings, experimented with materials, created public art, did an art residency and showed my art. Moving back to Pittsburgh, I am again teaching full time, as an art educator (K-3 grades). My passion for art lead me to be a teacher but I never lost my own identity when creating my own art. My artistic journey began in upstate New York at Alfred University, where I received a BFA. After graduation, I moved to Pittsburgh PA and worked as a darkroom manager and senior photographer for a local studio. While working full time, I went back to school for my teaching certificate at Carlow College. Shortly after I landed a teaching job in the Shaler Area School District, teaching grades K-7th. As the years went by, I took many art classes, entered art shows, membered in local art affiliations and established relationships with many local artists and non-profit art organizations. In 2012, I helped to establish an art environment for working woman artists with offering studio space, art shows, workshops and monthly open-studio evenings. Through the years I have continued to grow as an artist and mother of three children. I will always focus on my personal artwork and continue to build my art portfolio.
I hope you enjoy my work!