Colleen White has been in the creative arts for over 40 years. Her father was her mentor for silversmithing, gem cutting, and wood working skills. She is also certified in Precious Metal Clay and has had her OOAK bronze beads published in Lark Books “1000 Beads”. As a bead embroidery artist, she won awards including 2 “Best of Show” in the Florida West Coast Bead Society competitions 2017-2019. Her creations have been shown in many art shows and galleries over the years.

In the early 90’s she went to Asia and studied under masters at the Open International University for Complementary Medicine in Colombo, Sri Lanka, and her formal education includes doctorates in Naturopathy, Homeopathy, Acupuncture, and M.D.M.A. She then spent 5 years working with World Health setting up free clinics, and helping build kitchens, sanitary facilities, and water purification systems for orphanages in Cambodia. She also trained doctors in Cambodia, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan in a homeopuncture technique she developed and in 1999 published a fully illustrated manual still in use today. Her work gave her the opportunity to visit local mines and collect stones to later use in her creations.

She has taught jewelry classes at her home studio and at Art Center Manatee, Longboat Key Center for the Arts, Art Center Sarasota, OLLI at USF, and SCTI, including beading, wirewrapping, silversmithing, kumihimo fiber weaving, metal clay, bead embroidery, and polymer clay. Colleen had Village Gem Shop inside the Dancing Crane Gallery 2008-2011 but closed due to teaching commitments. During the past 2 years Colleen has used her skills to create miniature dioramas, often adding precious stones from her collection. These highly detailed fantasy miniatures will transport you to another world within a tiny space. She hopes to return to teaching again next Fall as she is still recovering from spinal fusion. Although still available for one on one online instruction, she will be back with all new classes!