ARTIST STATEMENT,
SANDRA MCTIERNAN, BFA.
Bachelor of Fine Art: Long Island University at Southampton 1993
Masters in Education (special education grades 1-6): Pace University 2007
Associates in Applied Sciences- registered nursing: LaGuardia Community College 2013
I am an artist, nurse, teacher, writer, poet, and singer/songwriter. My struggle with
severe mental illness interrupted my development as an artist and prevented my career
from beginning for decades. I did not do any art for many years because I felt that the
world was a tragic place, and it would be somehow wrong of me to sit and “putter with
paints.” But I have recovered, and my art helped me to get better. I started with doing
art volunteer. Now my art is helping me to fulfill my dreams!
I currently earn a living as a school nurse for District 75 special needs children. I do art
at night, on weekends, vacations, and summers. I have published several children’s
books, which I illustrated or co-illustrated by a combination of hand ink drawing and
computer colorization on Adobe Photoshop.
I have done a lot of nature art and I still do. I am fascinated with seed pods. Seeds are
the beginnings of life, given as a gift by the mother plant. They are her sacrifice,
entrusted to the brutal world. Though she does not know where the wind, rain, and
animals will bring them; she gives them anyway. It is her nature to release them. All of
creation is the Book of Nature, the 67th book of the Bible, revealing the mind of God. He
gave us mothers and fathers, who gave us their offspring, on and on. And here I am, the
seed that grew in less than favorable conditions. I am the vine, twisted and gnarled,
choked by thorns, but yet a survivor. I have overcome! No one can slam shut the doors
I have opened! It is because God healed me and it’s His will to bless me.
At the age of 42, I discovered that I could draw people and illustrate Bible scenes. Then
I began to teach Bible stories to children. Arts and crafts played a large role in my
teaching plans. Within five years, I developed a whole body of original paper crafts for
children. Teaching children has helped me learn the value of art. Today I feel my art
changes lives. It is my ministry to others. “The New Jerusalem” is my architectural
masterpiece, modelled after the Bible description carefully. “Jonah” shows God’s love in
the learning trials of the prophet.
My message to the world is: Use your gifts to help elevate you. Use your gifts to
elevate the world. Give and never look back. If it weren’t for God, we would have
nothing. It is only because of grace that we are where we are today. The giving of
one’s gifts is a privilege, whether it is your art, your writing, kind words, or even just a
smile. Your gifts are valuable and point to the purpose that God has for your life.
I will never forget where I came from. After a tragic childhood and a miraculous healing
by God, I am left with a deep sentiment of: “I just want everyone to be okay.” My heart is
turned toward those who don’t have the resources that I had. All profits of my art work
go to target hunger in Kenya. May the art go forth!!!
GALLERY SHOWINGS:
- “Rings in Nature” stoneware ceramic sculpture.
Southampton campus Fine Arts Gallery. Solo exhibit. May 1993 - “East End Artist’s Show” exhibited watercolor painting.
Goodman Gallery of Southampton. Nov. – Jan. 1994 - “The Spirit of Nature” solo exhibit. Paintings, drawings, and stoneware.
15 East Main St. Bay Shore. Jan. 1995. - “A Couple and Someone Else” scenery, window views for theatre.
Author’s Playhouse of Bay Shore. Mar. 1995. - “National Women’s History Month” watercolor series.
Town Hall Annex of Babylon. Mar. 1995. - “BACCA Rotating Art Exhibit” solo watercolor show.
North Babylon Public Library. Apr. 1995. - “Writing Uphill” group exhibit of multi-media 2-dimensional art.
Paramount Gallery of L.I.U.’s Brooklyn campus. Jun. – July 1996. - “Perspectives in Recovery” acrylic paintings and colored pencil drawing.
The Well Legislative Office Building. Albany. May 1996. - “The Phoenix” legal graffiti mural on 20-ft. brick wall.
Phun Factory. Davis St. Long Island City. Sept 1996. - “Family Forum” watercolors and colored pencil drawings.
PSCH clinic. Station Rd. Auburndale. Apr. 1997. - “In the Garden” Latex and enamel mural on sheet metal.
PSCH clinic. 37th Ave. Long Island City. May 1997. - “Open the Gate” watercolor, oil paintings, and drawings.
Legislative Office Building, Albany. Jun. 1997. - “Art in the Garden” solo exhibit outdoors. All media.
Sanford Ave. Flushing. Sept 1999. - “The Living Museum” stoneware sculpture exhibit in indoor garden.
Winchester Blvd. Queens Village. Oct 1999- present. - “1st & 2nd Grade Performance” created props and costumes.
P.S. 111- Long Island City. June 2008.
BIOGRAPHY SANDRA ALEXIS MCTIERNAN, BFA
I was born in Forest Hills, New York and grew up in Hicksville, New York. I was given art
supplies by my aunt. It meant a lot to me growing up. Throughout my childhood, I experienced repeated trauma from abuse and many lonely hours with nothing to do.
I excelled in school, coming in early and leaving late. I had little interest in friends at school. By the time I entered my teenage years I had severe mental illness, with no hope of getting help. I threw myself into my school work and my art work despite severe depression. I was disturbed by what I read about Van Gogh. He was never recognized within his lifetime. I found it so discouraging. Nobody wanted my art. Nobody cared to see it or buy it. Believing myself to be deeply defective and unworthy, I plunged into suicidal feelings, hardly able to cope. I didn’t know I would ever grow up. I saw no exit from my life of abuse. I stopped doing art because it seemed life was so tragic, that how could I bother with what seemed insignificant?
I won a full scholarship to go away to college at Southampton. Incredulous that I was leaving
home, off I was brought to the dorms. All tuition and fees were covered. I excelled in art
classes despite harrowing depression and anxiety. I married so I would never have to go back home. It was a whole host of new problems. I left him. I sought help in many ways and worked hard on my recovery.
I forgave my abuser and prayed for her. God miraculously healed her mental illness, which was mostly likely paranoid schizophrenia. Though my mother never got help, God was able to transform her over that month. The hallucinations and raging ended. I was not able to really process this at the time. It was a relief, but a shock at the same time.
I asked God for healing too. It wasn’t a light switch, but I did experience healing over the
following decade. I had so much to unlearn. I give God much of the credit for what therapy
failed to do, which was heal my self-esteem. God healed it miraculously through one Bible
verse: “For you are greatly beloved.” (Daniel 9:23) When I realized that I was loved by God, I
decided to see myself through His eyes instead of my abuser’s eyes. This solved a lot for me. It was a giant leap.
I became a special education teacher and then later went to nursing school in 2009. I met a
wonderful man and got remarried in 2013. I graduated and got a job with the Department of
Education in 2015, in which I served as a school nurse. I loved it. I am now in my 9th year as a school nurse.
My art changed with my recovery. Though I still do some nature drawings, I also do Bible
depictions and children’s crafts. I have a whole line of “simple Bible drawings for kids to copy.”. It’s thrilling to influence young minds and lead children through a challenging draw. My program Hark Stories is an international Bible program for kids and adults on Saturday mornings.
The adventure goes on and on with the most positive feelings, great friends, and great minds. I am surrounded by loving people and stimulating activities. I am gratified, fulfilled, and blessed. I pay it forward as I can. As a donor, I help many people, whether it be a school in Haiti or an orphanage in Uganda. Now my art proceeds go to friends in Kenya. I pray they will be as blessed as I have been to experience miracles and resources, and nurturing from God and people. Thank you for your interest!