Artist Statement:
The ideas for my paintings come from my imagination, and are often of memories, and places that I have been and seen, here in the rural Midwestern Heartland. I paint my landscapes simply, from my heart, where in my paintings I want to capture the feeling of peaceful, quiet, isolation, found out in the country.
I have always had a fascination with old farmsteads, especially the old farmhouses and barns found on them. Some of my fondest childhood memories and inspiration, are of the visits to my grandparent's remote Midwestern farm. Set down a very long lane, that eventually wound around the old barn, horse pasture, granary, corn crib, machine shed, chicken house, to then end up at their old farmhouse, with its white picket fence in the yard beyond. The croquet set would be on the lawn and Grandma would have one of her homemade pies waiting on the kitchen counter. A little bit of heaven here on earth, it felt to me way back then!
My painting style leans towards Realism, although I often use elements of Tonalism and Minimalism in them. I have been inspired by the Tonalists, Hudson River School Artists, Minimalists, and Realist artists for my art. I work mainly in acrylic paint on stretched canvas, for my Heartland landscapes. I paint with a process of building up many layers, using both wet and dry brush techniques, for my paintings. My art work has been described as having an intriguing peacefulness, in its quiet simplicity.
Education:
Bachelor of Fine Art, with an emphasis in Illustration, from NIU
Awards & Distinctions:
One of my paintings hung in the American Embassy in Sri Lanka for two years as part of the U.S.A. - Art in Embassies program. My paintings are part of the art collections of the University of North Dakota and Kishwaukee College in IL. Two of my works were selected to hang in the "This Old House" Magazine's Show House "Cloudland Cottage". My art work has been used for cover art on books including: “Love for the Land”, published by Yale University Press, Praying with your Whole Heart, Three Ways of Loving , a heritage cook book "Family Favorites by Cinagro Farm," and on a classical music CD "Wingra Plays Dvorak". An article on my original landscape paintings was featured on the online art magazine “Empty Easel”.
Exhibitions:
Regional Juried Exhibition IX, Freeport Art Museum, Freeport, IL
Peaceable Kingdom: Animals, Real and Imagined Art Exhibition, Bedford Gallery, Walnut Creek Ca,
Annual Juried Exhibit, Bridgeport Arts Center Gallery, Chicago, IL
Regional Juried Exhibition IX, Freeport Art Museum, Freeport, IL
26th International Exhibition on Animals in Art, Baton Rogue, LA
Annual International Small Works Show at Emerald Gallery, Fairfield, IA,
The Modern Landscape, Springfield Art Association, Springfield, IL
Agriculture in Art, New Visions Gallery, Marshfield, WI.
Artistic Influences:
Tonalism, Hudson River School Artists, Minimalism, and Realism.
Artist Tags:
barn, farm, landscape, farmhouse, painting, country
