Randi Gardner Introduction

Hello, My name is Randi Gardner, Formerly Randi Borst.
I am proud to say I have lived in Southern you my entire life, all 24 years. My parents are Howard and Keri and they are young spirits. Thanks to them, my two sisters and I grew up dancing to the smiths and frequenting the outdoors. I have many memories of exploring Zion National Park, Rock hunting in the middle of nowhere and visiting small "Mom & Pop" shops around Southern Utah. My childhood was never short of fun. Now as a wife and mother of one cute little boy (and another on the way) I feel so fortunate to raise my family in this dreamland!

I was asked by Lyndy to share the Artistic side of Southern Utah. Our community is such a dream to anyone interested in Art. The scenery is so inspiring! So, let me tell you a bit about me, as an art nerd.

For me, being myself always involved art. I can remember coloring in my Cinderella coloring book - thinking I was freaking amazing at this stuff. It was in 1st grade that I held up my butterfly artwork to my school crush and realized I had a different perspective than most. He told me it was ugly and I remember thinking his was too boring. By 4th grade I had gotten over the rejection and was signing my abstract art for my teachers - telling them I would be famous one day. (Man, what happened to THAT confidence?)

As high school and the wonderful teen years took place, I used art as an escape. Picture the moody teenage girl blaring "The Cure" and drawing everything with blue pencil. Yeah, life was hard. ha

But it wasn't until I became a wife and mother that art progressed into something new for me. I was frustrated because I couldn't capture this beautiful world I was seeing. I just couldn't get my paintings to be quite right. I could whip out a landscape or a cartoon portrait but it wasn't enough. So I picked up my mom's slr and started shooting.
And as I became a mother I began to get a little obsessed with moments passing by me. I wanted to capture it all because I didn't want to forget it. I never wanted to forget those newborn eyelashes or those tiny little toes. And art became even more personal to me.
Today, I always seem to find myself between expressing myself and capturing beauty.

Art will always be an important part of my life. Whether it's painting a picture to let my feelings out, doodling in my free time, capturing the beauty around me through a lens or even hearing it in the form of music. Art is who I am.

So when Lyndy approached me about this blog, I was thrilled! I need a good excuse to hit all the galleries and events. (Sorry husband.) I am excited to be completely inspired by other artists and to share their talent with you. And I must say, I am so fortunate to live in such a breathtaking town full of the most inspiring scenery you could imagine. This place is an artists dream.

As a self proclaimed artist form the age of 3, I think I'll do okay at finding beautiful things to share with you - and in the mean time, look out your front door we live in Southern, Utah people!

Randi