My name is Shirley Jean Newton. I am also known as Alnissa, which is my trade name listed as Alnissa's Art. I am an African-American, a native of Berks County, born and living in Reading.
As a child I lived in New York City during the Harlem Renaissance era. As an adult I have lived in Reading. I attended school in both cities of New York and Reading, completing my schooling in Reading. I am a graduate of Mindco, a business school for minorities.

I have been a practicing artist since 1972. I consider my abilities as a truly blessed gift from God. I create free standing dolls of wood. The doll's clothes are also of my design and creation. The dolls are fully dressed in clothes expressing my ideas of their ethnicity and origins. Plexiglas display cases are available to house the dolls.
I also create 3 dimensional mixed media wall plaques, jewelry, African landscape centerpieces,and family setting incense burners.

In February 1991 I was recognized as Artist of the Week on the Pennsylvania Art & Craft Internet show. I started displaying my art a few years ago. On three different occasions I entered juried art shows and won an award each time. The Reading Eagle Times has reviewed my art in the Life Style section. I have also received reviews by the Allentown Morning Call, the Delaware News, and the Philadelphia Inquirer. During the Black Doll exhibition at the Philadelphia Convention Center a portion of my art was a television feature on the Eleanor Henley's show on CBS. I have also displayed dolls in the Capitol Rotunda in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
I have given a number of presentations of my art and have some exciting invitations and presentations pending.

"In art the hand can never acquire what the heart inspires. God is my author"