Statement... Bio / CV
ARTIST'S STATEMENT
I tell a story and invite the viewer to devise his or her own narrative, decipher the obscure, and come away with a mind provoking experience. Loving the leeway and freedom of incorporating geometric shapes into a piece comes from my years working as a graphic designer. Taking these designs and combining them with the realistic figure in a quirky way gets my audience wondering where the cutoff is between reality and what isn't. Are those cupcakes floating in the air or are they on a proper shelf? Is the young lady floating in a pond or is she swirling in a sea of flowers and lily pads that are airborne? And just playing around with sheer color in itself keeps me painting! My most recent paintings border on the surreal with a heavy dose of traditionalism.
**********
My art training as a child had it's beginnings in classical art in which I strived to create work that imitated life and told a story. Not so popular, I soon discovered in my college years, as I tried to conform to the exact opposite, abstraction, and tried to express myself in a genre that seemed foreign to me.
I received a Bachelor of Fine Arts and studied with a focus on graphic design and studio art, then worked in the design field, and created graphics for children's clothing, sleepwear, and adult's casual clothing,
But returning to traditional realism did not exclude the inclusion of more contemporary colors, leading the way to further experimentation, which included geometric shapes.
With experience as a staff member at the Bergen Museum of Art and Science in New Jersey, I was involved in unpacking works and hanging art for shows, preparing for receptions, and painting the museum walls to complement each exhibit. By being exposed to many national and international artists, speaking with them and getting a glimpse of their process, I developed my own vision.
In addition, while raising our children with my wonderful husband, I painted, exhibited and sold work regularly at art competitions, exhibits, and won awards along the way.
As an instructor with the former Spring Street Art Center, N. J., Art Etc. N. J., and teaching classes online as well, I presently continue to share my techniques and paintings. It's been a pleasure!
******
EDUCATION
-Art Students League of N.Y.C.
-William Paterson University, Wayne, N. J., Drawing and Painting ,Graphic Design, BFA
-Centenary University, Hackettstown, N. J., (Post Grad)
PUBLICATIONS
-2017 Artsy Shark Online Publication….. ”A Favorite Work of Art”
AWARDS
-1999 First Place (Professional) Juried - Spring Art Show, Warren County Arts, Oxford, N. J.
-2000 Second Place, (Professional), Juried - Art Across the River, Knowlton, N. J.
-2002 Purchase Award, Read me a Story, Catherine Dickson Hoffman Branch Public Library Annual Fundraiser; Blairstown, N. J.
-2003 Purchase Award, Dancing Shoes, Catherine Dickson Hoffman Branch Public Library Annual Fundraiser; Blairstown, N. J.-2004 Purchase Award, Hanging the Wash, Catherine Dickson Hoffman Branch Public Library Annual Fundraiser; Blairstown, N. J.
EXHIBITIONS
-2023 Juried Group Exhibit: Art Association of N.J. -Whitespace Gallery; The Marketplace.
-2023 Group Exhibit; Whitespace Art and Event Gallery; Hackettstown, N. J. "Keeping it Small."
-2023 Group Exhibit; Whitespace Art and Event Gallery; Hackettstown, N. J.; "Landscapes and Florals"
-2023 Juried Group Exhibit: Art Association of N. J.; Whitespace Art and Event Gallery, Hackettstown, N. J,; "Let's See"
-2019 J Caldwell Building; Newton, N. J., Group Show
-2019 Fabulous Fakes; Sussex County Art Society, Lafayette Village, Lafayette, N. J.
-2018 Sussex County Community College, Newton, N. J. Group Show
-2017 Juried Group Show, Art Etc. Gallery, Newton, N. J.
-2016-Instructor’s Art Exhibit and Fundraiser; “Pass It Along," Spring Street Art Center Gallery, Newton, N. J.
-2016 28th Annual Skylands Juried Art Exhibit, Sussex County Arts and Heritage Gallery, Newton, N.J.
-2015 27th Annual Skylands Juried Art Exhibit,, Sussex County Arts and Heritage Gallery, Newton, N. J.
-2015 Sussex County Arts and Heritage Gallery, "Artist’s Choice."
-2015 Sussex County Arts and Heritage Gallery ..."Lighter Side"
-2014 Sussex County Arts and Heritage Gallery ..."Small Works"
-2000 Juried, "Art Across the River," Knowlton, N. J. Second Place
-2000 Juried Solo Show; "Seascapes and Landscapes," Paramus Public Library, Paramus, N. J .
-1999 Juried, Warren County Arts, Oxford, N. J. First Place
-1998 County College of Morris, Digital Art Exhibition, Randolph, N. J.
-1998, 1997l Juried, Art in the Park, Footbridge Park, Blairstown, N. J.
-1997 Juried, North Warren Regional High School, Blairstown, N. J.
-1996 Juried, "Art at Lafayette Village", Lafayette, N. J.
-1995 Juried, "Art at Lafayette Village", Lafayette, N. J.
-1992 Juried, Four Sisters Winery, Belvidere, N. J.
-1991 The Silver Bullet Restaurant Group Show, Frelinghausen, N. J.
-1985 Juried, "Art in the Park," Van Saun Park, Paramus, N. J.
-1984 Juried, "Bergen Mall with the Arts", Paramus, N. J. (weekend)
-1983 Juried, "Bergen Mall with the Arts, Paramus, N. J. "
-1982 Juried, "Bergen Mall with the Arts, Paramus, N. J. "
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
-Instructor in Oil and Acrylic Painting, Art Etc., Newton, N. J. (2015-2017)
-Instructor in Oil and Acrylic Painting - Spring Street Art Center, Newton, N. J.(2013-2015))
-Oil and Acrylic Painting; Zoom classes (2020-present)
-Substitute Art Teacher, New Jersey Public School System 1995-2008
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
-National Oil and Acrylic Painter’s Society (NOAPS)
-New Jersey Art Association
-Morris County Art Association, NJ
-Art Association of Roxbury, N.J.
JUDGING EXPERIENCE
52nd Members Show; Art Association of Roxbury, N. J. Sussex Community College, Newton, N. J.
COMMUNITY
-1989-1992 Bergen County Museum of Art and Science, Paramus, N. J. - Received artworks and installed art; preparation for receptions.
-Created and established installation at St. Peter and Paul Church, Great Meadows, N. J. Oil Painting 18’ x 12’ on altar. Refurbished devotional statues.
ILLUSTRATION and DESIGN
-1980-1987 Studio 77 Designs, Montvale, N. J. Motif creation for children's sleepwear; pattern design/Carter's
-1986-1989 Teddy Designs, wearable art, retail. Handmade designs on clothing for two women's stores in Warren County, N. J.
-1988-1998 Topnotch Art of N. J. member; group shows throughout N. J. shows at corporations, malls and art festivals.
-1974 -1980 Free Lance Designer: illustration, logos, for advertising, publishing, for various business clients in N.Y. and N.J.