Premio Combat Prize

Artist Statement

I invest in the creation of a piece of art to convey what I have inside: my thinking, my emotions, my life, my essence and my soul. It is also a way I can reach my own desires and essential demands out of life. When I begin my creative process I do not have a direct path in mind. From experience, I know the process in which I plan to paint, and the mediums I have chosen to use, and thus begins the journey. I lay down my paint with many thoughts and unrestrained emotions running through my head. These images help guide my brush or the tools I choose to use. My painting medium of choice is a type of paint called fluid acrylic. It allows for the greatest level of my creative expression. The fluidity of the paint permits me to let loose with my emotions and travel to places I have never been before. No two paintings are ever the same. An exciting feeling for me as I follow the liquid movement of the paint to new levels of creation. For me it is important to create what I feel. My abstract art is an extension of myself. Full of passion and emotion: happy, sad, angry, calm, all these play a part in my creative process. The sights running through my head create the desire to paint in a more expressive form. The outcome of the painting process is titled based on how I feel about the finished piece. Painting has saved me from myself. Every fiber of my being is poured into my art. As an abstract artist, I view the world from a different perspective. Everything I see, hear and feel is a possible inspiration for a painting. Sometimes the emotions I feel are happy, sometimes sad. It depends on the situations and environments in which I find myself. So many sensations are evoked by the smallest of details. The world becomes overwhelming with everything my mind has to process. Painting allows me to pour these feelings out onto the canvas. It releases the pressure that builds up over the hours and days in between picking up a paint brush. It becomes my quiet time, where I can relax and just enjoy the moment. Painting has saved me from myself. Abstract art has become a way of life for me. It rules the images I see as I go through my daily life, provoking thoughts for my next painting and feeding off my emotions for that day. The inspiration that I take from experiencing life creates a feeling that continues to inspire me. I don’t think, as an artist, that is something I could ever lose.

Education: 1982 Bachelor of Arts, Graphic Design and Fine Art University of Wisconsin, Whitewater, WI ⁃ Editor and Senior Designer of University Arts Newspaper, MUSE, 1980 - 1982 ⁃ Director of Student Art Gallery, 1980 - 1982 Other Education: 2015 Intuative Abstract Paintng. Workshop 2013 Adventures in Abstract Painting 2. Workshop 2012 Adventures in Abstract Painting. Workshop 2010 Mixed Media Collage and Abstract Painting. Workshop 2006 Introduction to Silver and Semi Precious Stones Jewelry Making. Workshop 2004 Adobe Photoshop. Workshop 2004 Adobe Illustrator. Workshop Teaching Experience: 2007 - 2009 Art Teacher, St. Mary Grade School, Janesville, WI Solo Exhibitions: Revelations, The Third Avenue Playhouse, Sturgeon Bay, Door County, WI. February 3rd - 28th 2015 Artist of the Week, DCAL Art Gallery, Fish Creek, Door County, WI. June 7th - 13th 2014 A New Direction, Hedburg Public Library and Galleria, Janesville, WI. December 1st - 31st 2013 Absolute Abstraction, Espresso, Stoughton, WI. May 2010 Emerging, Café Italiano, Janesville, WI. July 2008 Wonders in Wildlife, Janesville Public Library, Janesville, WI. August 1993 Group Exhibitions: Miami Exhibition, Nina Torres Fine Art Gallery. Group exhibit of international contemporary artists. Miami FL. March 15th - April 10th. February Exhibition, UW-Madison Research Hospital. Madison, WI. February 7th - March 7th 2015 Being Human, Studio 26 Art Gallery. Group exhibit of global contemporary artists. Lower East Side, NYC, NY. February 6th - March 1st 2015 Holiday Show, Studio 26 Art Gallery. Group exhibit of worldwide contemporary artists. Lower East Side, NYC, NY. December 5th - January 25th 2015 CONFLUENCE 2014, VAM Art Gallery. Exhibition of global contemporary artists. Metuchen, NJ. December 19th 2014 - March 15th 2015. Christmas/Spring Show, Marling HomeWorks. Group exhibit of local artists. Janesville, WI. December 10th - March 26th 2015 25 Artists You Should Know, Raven’s Wish Gallery. Part of group exhibit of regional artists. Janesville, WI. November 21st - December 31st 2014. Janesville Performing Arts Center, Holiday Art Show, JPAC. Group exhibit of regional artists. Janesville, WI. November 17th 2014 - January 5th 2015 Fantastic! Studio 26 Art Gallery. Group exhibit of global contemporary artists. Lower East Side, NYC, NY. November 1st - 30th 2014 Irish Festival Art Fest, Group exhibit of regional artists. Janesville, WI. October 4th, 2014 Flash Mob, DCAL Art Gallery. Group exhibit for the week. Door County, WI. September 27th - October 3rd 2014 Eclectic Edge Exhibit, DCAL Art Gallery. Group exhibit showcasing abstract and multiform artwork. Door County, WI. August 30th - September 5th 2014 Times Square Animated Collage, See.Me. Worldwide digital collage, on display in Times Square. New York, NY. July 24th 2014 Year in Review 2013, See.Me. Worldwide digital exhibition, New York, NY. March 7th - 14th 2014 Confluence ’14 Art Exhibition, The Galerie Art Eterne. Artwork juried and selected for exhibition on consignment. New Delhi, India. March 2014 SCOPE Miami, See.Me. Featured artist in digital exhibition in Miami, FL. December 2013 1st SAG International Art Exhibition, Swayam Art Gallery. Worldwide contemporary artists exhibition. Dharan, Nepal. December 2013 Irish Festival Art Fest, Group exhibit of regional artists. Janesville, WI. October 5th 2013 Creatives Rising, See.Me. Worldwide digital exhibition. New York, NY. October 2013 Tallman House Arts Festival. Group exhibit of regional artists. Janesville, WI. August 3rd 2013 International Art Affair Exhibition, RC Raebec Gallery. Online Gallery. June 2013 Art Takes Miami, See.Me. Worldwide digital exhibition. Miami, FL. April 2013. Television Spotlights: Interview at Tallman House Arts Festival, JATV, August 3rd 2013 “Meet the Artist,” JATV, December 8th 2013 Publications: Art Takes Miami book, publisher: See.Me, 2013 Art & Beyond Magazine, March/April edition, 2014 Peninsula Pulse newspaper, June 1st - 7th edition, 2014 Key to the Door Weekly newspaper, June 4th edition, 2014 Direct Art Magazine, Volume 21, November edition, 2014 Art & Beyond Magazine, November edition, 2014 The Artist’s Magazine, Winter edition, 2014 - 2015 Master of Art International book, Volume 1, publisher: Margarita Freaks Gallery, 2015 ArtQuench Magazine, Volume 2, Winter edition, 2015 Art & Beyond Magazine, January/February edition, 2015 Honors and Awards: Artavita 11th Online Contest - Worldwide Art Books Artavita January 2015 One of 16 honorable mentions. To be featured in Contemporary Masters Volume XI book. Master of Art International Contest Margarita Freaks Gallery, England December 2014 Best Illustration Award for ”Super Charged.” Artavita 10th Online Contest - Worldwide Art, Los Angeles Exhibition Artavita September 2014 One of 100 nominees to win a Certificate of Excellence. Artwork selected, ”Devil’s Run.” Abstract/Experimental Category, 30th Annual Art Competition The Artist’s Magazine July 2014 One of the top 85 finalists out of over 3,000 entries. Artwork selected, ”Devil’s Run.” Listed in the December issue of The Artist’s Magazine as one of the top finalists. The Body Electric Contest Saatchi Artist June 2014 One of top 300 finalists out of over two thousand entrants. Artwork recognized was “Jubilee.” Cover and Content Competition Art & Beyond Magazine March 2014 Publisher Choice Award for artwork ”Dream Weaver.” The 46th annual National Packaging Competition sponsored by the Paperboard Packaging Council October 1989 Bronze award for outstanding packaging and graphics for “Teddy Bear’s Christmas,” a pull down scroll, countdown to Christmas. Story and illustrations.