STEPHENIE ANDERSON
Southeastern Oklahoma State University - Durant OK
Bachelor of Art in Education, 2016
"Exploring the intricate ties between nature and human experiences in my art. I use flora and fauna as potent symbols to convey emotions, struggles, and triumphs. Though careful observation and research in folklore, mythology, and history, I portray creatures as metaphors for the human psyche. Join me in finding solace and reflection amid the choas of modern life through my artwork, where the beauty of nature intertwines with the complexities of the human spirit, revealing universal truths that bind us all."
Southeastern State College - Durant, OK
Bachelor of Art in Education, 1970
Master of Art in Education, 1971
"Preference for non-objective creations inspired by the action painters of 1950 and 60s such as Pollock, De Kooning, among others, Stan's bold use of color, energetic brush strokes, overlapping shapes and strong value contrasts mark his personal style. Individual paintings emerge from a paint-in-paint-out technique. Each work is spontaneous but deliberate - not accidental. Perkins gives his painting titles as a mere starting point for viewers to interpret as they please."
Univeristy of Texas - Austin, Texas
University of Kansas - Lawrence, Kansas
"Bonnie Koenig is a recent resident to North Texas. Having moved from Virginia to Texas just over 3 years ago, she is a working artist living neighboring Sherman, She is an abstract and contemporary landscape painter. She is an artist with over 35 years of experience in painting. Her formal art education began at the University of Texas, Austin and was completed at the University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas. Her work subjects are most always landscape inspired and compositions range from realism to minimalism to the abstract."
"Bonnie E Koenig states: A majority of my work is about nature. Inspirations come from landscapes, water, colors of the season, movement and the atmosphere. The use of color and mark making create a sense of place and depth and light and are prominently used evoke a mood. Some paintings are derived from on-site compositions while others are created from internal inspirations."
"My formal education in fine arts began at the University of Texas, Austin and was completed at the University of Kansas in Lawrence, KS. My student work focused on realist landscapes. I experienced a jumping off point into a more abstract style, when a UK professor challenged me to begin feeling what I paint and experiment with different techniques, the use of color and unconventional tools. Some of the tools I use are things like trowels, kitchen spatulas, string and thread to create interesting layers by adding and subtracting with a spatula or brayer. I also mix mediums which sometimes resists the other and makes for a fun effect. Development of the compositions and patiently layering color is what creates the mood and place. My works are mostly landscape inspired, but don’t hold me too it. Sometimes its just a fun experiment. This is how I develop my work. I sometimes just go back to painting a realistic piece because a subject inspires me. I Hope you enjoy the work."
WILLIAM NELEKONA
Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising - Los Angeles, CA
Bachelor of Science in Apparel Manufacturing and Business Management
"William Nelekona is a Texas artist, born in 1984. He began delving deeper into art, after suffering a back injury in high school. He entered and participated in multiple art competitions, receiving awards in painting, mixed media, and fibers categories. He attended The Kansas City Art Institute in the Fall of 2003. After completing year 1, William sold several paintings, which earned him the means to travel. He flew to Mallorca, Spain, and lived for 4 months. There, he painted and sold works on the street, in the main plaza or around the cathedral. Afterward, William returned to the states and completed his second year at KCAI, in the Painting department. He then went on to attend The Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, in Los Angeles, where he graduated with a BOS in Apparel Manufacturing and Business Management. He designed his band’s logo, which later led him to create logos for businesses. In L.A., William took on numerous painting commissions, and worked at a paint store, teaching painting. Some noteworthy clients include Dawaun Parker, Grammy producer and musician, Lion Street, Inc., and Donald Zale of Zale’s Jewelers. While in Los Angeles, William also was a featured artist in an art show put on by RAW Artists in 2010. Most of William’s work has been commissioned based, until the Fall of 2022, when William began to sell his original works online. William continues making fine art today, working out of his studio in Fort Worth, Texas."
So, art! There’s sort of a broad range in the type of work I create. I find it all meaningful, and will share the things that might not be considered pretty or polished. I’m comfortable alone, when traversing the outdoors. I was raised to move and navigate through rough country, and on the water. So I find myself painting and drawing plein-air, more and more. Kind of a 2 birds, 1 stone kinna deal. My children touch my heart so deeply; they continually find their way into my work, so themes of family, and capturing my children being free, in everyday life, inspires me. My children are budding artists as well, and we regularly collaborate together. The act of creating art has allowed us to more deeply understand life and our own feelings. Art has a power to heal, not just inspire. You may see some of our collaborations. I also appreciate a nice still life, usually of flowers and nature. I’m drawn to nocturnes and will be painting them more. Also, I’ve started utilizing more palette knives. Painting with knives kind of limits the perfectionist side of my brain, (or maybe, clean and tidy) and really allows me to put more paint onto the canvas.
I am a spiritual person, so there is another segment of my work that would entirely fall into this category. The spiritual work, is when I’m making a purposeful attempt to connect closer to God. Some of these sessions have been incredible. A part of me feels like a witness to the art being created. It’s a wonderful experience. I also make intuitive art, very much removing my left brain, while engaging the right, for color and feel. These tend to be great artistic exercises, where color, shape, line, and form are front and center. These works can also be inspired from my dreams.
I’m primarily working with Conté a Paris, chalk pastels, oil paint, and oil pastels. Most of my art is on canvas and paper. Some work is completed in a single sitting, while others are developed over months. There’s not an exact formula I have to calling a work complete. It’s more relying on instinct and a gut feeling.
I have a rather rebellious nature and my art philosophy is simpatico. There are no rules when purely creating. No matter where you are in your life as an artist, you should be true to yourself. Even a young artist who is present and eagerly expressing themselves from the heart, leaves that indelible mark, that recognizable spark and spirit behind. And it’s worth it to do this. It’s the harder road, but that’s life. It’s a great, beautiful, grilling, struggle. You must be present. Whether it’s dark or light, provoking or peaceful, there should be some element, some essence of beauty to it. Otherwise, what’s the point. We all have a unique fingerprint. We each have 1 unique soul that is completely ours. To me, to become an impactful, connecting artist, in order to gift the world, maybe a little more beauty, depth, and happiness, the goal should be to interpret and express honestly, exactly from within, exactly from your heart, mind, and spirit.
JANET SUCHEVICH
"My name is Janet Suchevich and I am a self taught artist, retired retail manager, wife of 40 years, mother of 3 son’s, ten grandchildren & two great grandchildren. I have always loved art from an early age I was drawing & painting but didn’t really get serious about painting until about 15 years ago when gifted an art set and from there my love and passion for painting grew along with my talent."
"Most of my work is is done in landscapes, seascapes and I’m inspired by the color of nature sunsets, water rushing on the beach, flowers but I also do abstract and love to just let the paint & color take me where ever.I love lighthouses & love to paint them.Painting is my passion and when I’m painting I’m happy. My main medium is acrylic & watercolor but also love fluid art. Some of the artist who inspired me are Van Gogh, Pollock, Bob Ross ( I started out watching him)& Hargrove. I inspire to be a better artist & to share my art & passion for art."
"Zezelia is a line artist based in Austin, Texas. Zezelia’s mastery lies in her ability to infuse her creations with a sense of fluidity and organic charm. Working primarily with micron pen on clay board and birch wood, she has garnered recognition for her distinctive approach to line work, captivating audiences with intricate detailing and emotional compositions. Zezelia's artistic oeuvre is characterized by the exploration of fluid abstract forms imbued with an innate organic quality that reflects the artist's deep connection to patterns in nature and subconscious life. Her works evoke a sense of dynamic movement and rhythmic harmony, inviting viewers to delve into a realm where form and emotion intertwine seamlessly. Notable projects by Zezelia often examine themes of interconnectedness, transformation, and subconscious patterns. Zezelia's contributions to the art world have been showcased in a number of exhibitions in Central Texas. Notable among these is her participation in group exhibitions at esteemed venues such as Icosa, Big Medium, and McLennon Pen Co."
"My work in micron pen is characterized by fluidity and a strong organic essence. The driving force behind my work is an enduring curiosity about subconscious life and how it manifests in the patterns we live over time. Each drawing is created line by tedious line with only the vaguest vision of the big picture, just as life is lived day by day through a myriad of twists, turns, and unexpected intersection. Each drawing invites the view to explore their subconscious and recognizes patterns that shape their past and guide their future."
"By way of humanity’s ancestral craft of weaving, Josie Walker specializes in handwoven home decor such as wall art and table runners, as well as wearable art like handwoven scarves and shawls. In 2020, Josie earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in cultural anthropology at Oklahoma Baptist University while minoring in studio art with a focus on fibers. Today, Josie enjoys taking on commissioned work, displaying her pieces in galleries and exhibitions in the greater Dallas area, and selling her art at a variety of local markets.
“Why make art?” is like asking me, “Why eat food?” I simply must create to survive!
My entire life I have been an artist. Even as a child, I could always be found creating in some form or fashion, whether it was pencil drawings on legal pads, playdough sculptures, or making a beaded necklace. Once I stumbled upon the world of fiber art, I truly found my artistic voice and there was no turning back. As an anthropology student, I'd found myself enamored with the rich tradition of textile art throughout human history and I simply had to try my hand at weaving. After a semester of "Fibers I" at OBU, I was totally in love. My parents bought me my own 1964 Leclerc 4-shaft floor loom that Christmas and it has been an adventure ever since. I’ve found that fiber art gives a perfect outlet to my love for creative freedom within defined parameters. Within the practical space of the warp strings, I experiment and get creative with color, texture, and design!
What am I saying in my artwork? What am I aiming to convey? Well frankly, often nothing in particular!
Allow me to clarify. In so much of my work, the materials are like an instrument- an avenue allowing the artwork to flow out of me, into the colors and textures at my fingertips. It’s not about what I want to say or tell my viewers. My art is just an overflow of my very existence. My inspiration itself is not an eloquent thing, but rather I see the wool and cotton, the tinsel and flax, and I am beckoned to by the unspoken creative potential in the material. I find it difficult to describe my desire to create and where that desire comes from aside from a simple overflow of the way that I see the world. My artistic practice is, simply put, an outlet for my life experience.
As the LORD created from overflow of his own love and goodness, I firmly believe we humans, made in his image, are gifted with the dimmest reflection of that same artistic overflow. Sometimes the overflow is by way of physical artwork, sometimes by music, sometimes by the art of writing, homemaking, cooking, engineering, ice fishing, you name it. Humans are made to make, created to create. How wonderful is that?"
RYAN REILY
Ryan’s work now focuses exclusively on fine art photography. In his series Southern Lights, he combines practical and digital effects to transform abandoned spaces into otherworldly scenes, highlighting their hidden beauty and narratives. His series Echoes of Time features photographs taken with hand-built cameras, capturing the essence of historical and abandoned sites. These images evoke a late nineteenth-century aesthetic while subtly integrating elements of modern life, reflecting his fascination with the passage of time and the interplay between decay and renewal."
Artist Statement:
"This collection represents two distinct yet interconnected explorations of decaying spaces, each series revealing unique perspectives through different photographic techniques.
Southern Lights captures the haunting beauty of abandoned structures illuminated by vibrant hues against the backdrop of night. Using a combination of practical and digital effects, each photograph is composed of multiple exposures restricted to red, green, and blue. This technique reveals subtle, otherworldly movements and patterns, transforming familiar scenes into eerie, supernatural landscapes. The unnatural light highlights the decay, creating a sense of mystery and unease, and inviting viewers to ponder the transient nature of human constructs.
In contrast, the series Echoes of Time delves into the historical resonance of these decaying spaces, captured with hand-built 4x5 and 8x10 format cameras. Each image emphasizes the fragility and impermanence of human endeavors. The imperfections of the hand-built camera mirror the ephemeral nature of the subjects, enhancing their historical and emotional impact. These photographs invite contemplation of the past significance and current state of the abandoned and forgotten.
Together, these series offer a comprehensive exploration of time, light, and decay. Southern Lights reveals the interplay of light and darkness, presence and absence, through vivid color and digital manipulation. Echoes of Time captures the timelessness and historical weight of decaying structures through analog techniques. Both aim to evoke a dialogue about the passage of time, the fragility of human constructs, and the haunting beauty that emerges from decay."
TERESA KARG
"I had an interest in photography at a very young age, thanks to my favorite Aunt. My interest in art was sparked when I started high school. Photography took a back burner to art in my High school years. My college years consisted of both art and photography courses until my father passed away and mother became ill. I dropped out and went to work to help support my family. When I wasn’t working full time, I was out taking photos as a stock photographer and working closely with publishers for various animal and veterinary related publications. My entire focus was photography until 2014 when I mentioned to my husband that I missed creating art. For my birthday he surprised me with art materials to rekindle my passion. I dabbled in acrylics when I wasn’t working as a photographer. We moved to Las Vegas and I soon became addicted to the wild horses that live in the mountains outside of Vegas. Photographing them became my life, my passion. After COVID we decided to move to Texas….where there are no wild horses. I became depressed and missed the bands of wild horses I came to know and love. That is when I decided to take my passion for the wild horses and horses in general and use art as an outlet to soothe my soul. Wild Horses are my passion but I have a love for all things Wild!"
"The majority of my artwork contains subjects I have photographed; mainly wild horses. I create my sources to paint from in photoshop. I currently work in mixed media which consists of collage, acrylic and oil paint. I still photograph everything Texas and fly back to Las Vegas every four months or so to photograph my beloved wild horses."
IVY JUDE DEYOUNG
"Ivy Jude Deyoung b.1982 San Antonio where she still resides surviving the unbearable Texas heat. She studied at the University of Texas San Antonio where she earned a B.F.A. then went on to study art education at the same institution. She has been teaching core subjects to pre-k thru elementary students the last few years. Currently she spends time reading lgbtq fantasy novels with her cat and dogs as well as studying tarot and astrology adding to her spiritual quest. She also loves wandering art and music events. She does not regret a single tattoo."
"Her paintings are her intentional and methodically haphazard way of expressing turmoil, battles, lovely highs and confusing states of being human her Gemini self can only communicate visually. Portraiture has been her primary pictorial mark making activity submerging either herself, a loved one, a character she has imagined or all of them simultaneously inhabiting real world happenings that the viewer must decode and decide for themself. She prefers the last few years to paint on the floor with her hands and very few brushes to be closer to high mother earth and the method is integral to her maternal longings she could never bring forth into human existence. Her aspiration in art is only to experience it."
VOLTA VOLOSHIN
"Volta Voloshin-Smith helps corporate teams and private groups feel calm and connected through creative and meditative workshops. Her signature workshop and online course, Watercolor Meditation, combine breathing techniques with simple brush marks to reduce stress and prevent burnout. Originally from Moldova, Volta adds vibrancy to food through illustrations and brings brands to life with live painting and memorable animations. Her clients include Home Depot, Meta, Michaels, and others. Author of Watercolor Snacks (2021), Watercolor 101 (2024) and the host of the Calm and Creative podcast, she frequently makes TV appearances to discuss the benefits of art for mental health. Volta also specializes in making events memorable through bespoke watercolor live painting of guests and objects."
"I grew up in post soviet union Moldova where I spent my youthful summers helping my grandmother in her garden. Being a part of the process from planting to harvesting left an imprint in me to appreciate the fullness of the food in front of me and all the journey it took to get here. Coming to America opened up my eyes and stomach to the possibilities of food from many other cultures. Exploring other cultures helps me connect with my community and I carry that inspiration with me when I paint. Painting food brings up a sense of belonging, of sharing a meal and sharing in each other’s triumphs and losses. It is how I tether myself to my environment; always inspired by a local chef’s recent creation and moved to the point of tears upon seeing beautiful and fresh produce. My art aims to uplift, to encourage, to color. I embraced watercolors as my chosen medium because of its effervescence and soothing qualities. My intention is to combine the joy of vibrant colors and the calm of watercolors for an experience of pure, unfiltered joy, the kind we all used to have back before the world told us we needed to fit into a box."
DIANE SIMON
"1. Diane Simon, am a north Texas based ceramic artist that uses porcelain to create fine art vessels. A background in anthropology sparked my interest in the cultural significance of ceramics but I was hooked on working with clay as soon as I took a ceramics class. Once my education was complete, I started my exploration in ceramics as a studio potter. For the last 15 years I have been the artist/owner of Ceramicgoddess, LLC, making fine art and custom vessel sinks for homes across the U.S. and internationally. The creation of sinks over the years has honed my skills as a ceramic artist which has enabled me to find my voice as an artist. I use traditional vessel forms as a canvas which I adorn with fine details such as insects, bones and textured layers in combination with crystalline glazes to create works that seem familiar yet foreign at the same time. My intent is to create visually rich pieces that have unsettling beauty."
"My vessels tell my personal narrative, they are a glimpse into the environment in which I wish to surround myself. My vessels are a culmination of all of the things I love and influence my personal aesthetic. Art nouveau, and most notably Antonio Gaudi, has always been a great love of mine with its use of organic, sinuous lines in combination with ornate elements from the natural world. Historical fashion is another interest of mine with its detalled patterns, cutouts and adornments. Science fiction has fueled my imagination by creating possible visual landscapes and creatures from other worlds. The concept of trypophobia, which is the aversion to repetitious patterns or clusters, is a concept that I enjoy playing with because it inspires such instinctual feelings from visual elements, I hope my vessels convey some or all of these influences to the audience of my work.
Almost all of my vessels have insect or insect parts as adorriment on them. Insects have always captivated and enthralled my attention. They are something that causes fear and loathing in many people or by others are just overlocked. Often they are so tiny that their intricate forms and vibrant colors go unnoticed. By taking something so micro and blowing it up to a macro scale I hope to give insects a new presence, that way they can not be overlooked. Insects have an otherworldly quality, they basically just look foreign from most of the other creatures on earth. Their eyes can be out of proportion to their body or they may have many eyes. Their texture can be bizarrely smooth or look like hammered metal. They can have patterns on their body which mimic scary faces to ward against predators. They have mandibles that extend outside of their mouths. Insects are just "weird" and that is why they inspire awe in me, I hope to pass that on to others.
I want my pieces to have an otherworldly feel, perhaps they are tribal ceremonial vessels for an alien culture that uses creatures similar to our insects to serve as "watch dogs, or as religious icons. Through the use of symmetry, details of adomment and pattern within pattem (through the use of crystalline glaze), I hope to create an elegant landscape that elevates these bizarre creatures. I use cutouts in my vessels for the effect of peeling back visceral layers to create a mysterious or unsettling effect. I want my vessels to seem famillar but foreign at the same time The intent of my work is to combine beauty with bizarre in hopes to give notice to our overlooked natural world, perhaps inspiring protective feelings towards all earth's creatures and our environment."