Art has always been Glenda Coleman’s passion, but she found herself cutting hair to make a living.

That living, however, allowed the Macon woman to pursue a degree in her passion.

“I went back late in life to get my college degree in studio art,” Coleman said. “I was like 30 when I went back. I finally had the money to put myself through college.”

She earned the money by opening her own barbershop, Glenda’s Cove, in 1975.

“I owned a barbershop throughout the time I was going through school,” she said. “It was my own business that I had started, cutting men’s hair.”

Coleman said it took her about 10 years to earn her bachelor’s degree in studio art from Wesleyan College in Macon. After receiving her degree in 2000, she continued working at the barbershop while putting effort into her art. She said she showed her work at different places and entered contests.

Last year though, Coleman retired and closed down her business.

“I was totally burnout cutting hair,” she said.

The 64-year-old is now fully focused on her art. Coleman is part of the Ocmulgee Painters Society, a group of artists showcasing its work at the Quinlan Visual Arts Center in Gainesville. It is part of the Spring Exhibitions, which runs through June 3.

“I think I’ve been with them (the Ocmulgee Painters Society) for maybe six years,” she said. “I like to show as much as I can.”

Coleman described her art as “contemporary, impressionistic.”

“I have my own style,” she said. “Each person has their own individual style, and I’m just trying to still learn.”

To learn, Coleman is still taking classes, because she said she feels she doesn’t know enough.

“The more I know about art, the less I know,” she said. “It’s just a continuous learning process.”

She said many of her paintings are stories.

“Once you start painting it, then the story starts revealing itself to you,” she said.

Her work at the Quinlan reflects her inspiration of storytelling, including one titled “The Long Walk.”

“I was taking a walk on the beach, and rarely you’ve got a beach where there are no high rises and condos,” she said. “And it was about me feeling the past of the beaches not being built up. It was so nice and tranquil and quiet without all the people.”

For more information, visit www.quinlanartscenter.org.