Martina Celerin started out as a scientist, not an artist.

The visiting artist gave a lecture at the Tarble Art Center Monday night that highlighted her work.

The Coles County Spinners and Weavers Guild sponsored the event.

Celerin was born in Prague, Czech Republic and later immigrated to Canada. She left Canada in 1996 and has lived in the United States ever since.

Science has always been a part of Celerin’s life. She attended college at the University of Western Ontario and earned a doctorate in plant sciences.

She was forced to choose between two fields.

“In high school I had to make a choice,” Celerin said. “I was always told to pursue science.”

In education, she chose science, but art was soon to follow.

“In grad school I started with art and pastel,” Celerin said.

She enjoyed pursuing her art and decided to give it some more of her time and see where it took her.

“I decided to take a break from science for one year after my two kids were born,” Celerin said. “It was definitely the right choice.”

For Celerin, art became another way of expression.

“It was the way I evolved to express myself more dimensionally,” she said.

While experimenting with various types of art, she came across weaving.

Weaving makes up the majority of her work.

“It’s painting with yearn,” Celerin said.

Celerin’s first weaving still holds some sentimental value to her.

“My first weaving still stays in my front foyer today,” she said.

Some of Celerin’s weavings were the product of her experimenting with different items like color and shape. Incorporating in something and making it beautiful is important, she said.

“Rain,” a weaving by Celerin, uses beads throughout the weaving to give the illusion of rain.

“Wizards Work” uses a lot of color – a vibrant green. The color shows another dimension that Celerin’s weavings can take.

Often times one weaving will inspire another weaving. And some of the art just happens and Celerin could not be happier with the finished product.

“Sometimes you have to go a little further and see what you get,” she said.

Michelle Hinson, a graduate student, came to see Celerin’s work because it has to do with her major.

Hinson, an art major studying metalsmithing, jewelry and weaving, said she did some needle felting herself.

Hinson was interested in the exhibit because both she and Celerin were interested in the same types of art.

Edna Kniskern, a member of the Coles County Spinners and Weavers Guild enjoyed Celerin’s presentation because it also related to her interests with art.

“I spin and weave and also do watercolors,” Kniskern said.