NISDA STAFF

SOPHIE ELIZA CROSS

North of Boston based artist Sophie Cross is a classically trained figurative artist and mental health counselor specializing in art therapy. She completed studies earning a BFA from the Art Institute of Boston and Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts. After graduating she spent time working at the Chelsea Foundry (Chelsea, Ma.) as a mold maker and completed a 200 hour iyengar yoga certification. With growing interest in weaving the art world with wellness, Sophie attended Lesley University earning a Masters Degree, becoming a LMHC ( licensed mental health counselor) and ATR ( therapy registered). As an LMHC and ATR Sophie runs her own individual private practice. Sophie has always made jobs out of her passions and her latest certification has been becoming a Zumba instructor, classes in the works. 

Sophie is most inspired by arts from the Renaissance. She has always loved the human figure and nature, she works in both 3D and 2d using materials such as clay, wax, pencil, charcoal, colored chalks on either paper or smooth wooden boards. Sophie loves tender beauty and finding it in our world as well as offering a new way of seeing, considering the beauty in the little things, the mundane and in the perfectly imperfect.

A fun fact about Sophie is that she grew up as a little girl here at Nisda watching her mom Laura Herhold teach, hold art critiques and have art shows. She holds fond memories attending the kinder arts program and still has many of her works from it today like a doll she made of Kathy. Generations of artists in the family continue with Sophie’s son Paxton, a budding comic illustrator who loves a good superhero. It warms Sophie’s heart to share the magic of Nisda and see Paxton now take his turn attending the kinder arts program and enjoying everyone’s beloved island.