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.
MORGAN HUDSON
Coming soon