July 2008-Karla Johnson "Composition & Flower arranging".

June 17th, 2008Marnie Fender Drawing 248-328-8187
WHAT CAN BE EXPECTED: I am looking forward to talking with the Fenton Artist Guild and sharing my work via a slide show as well as actual pieces. I hope to inspire others traveling on their own artful journeys and encourage others to make the most of limited time – to find a nurturing balance between art and other interests and responsibilities. I am at an exciting point right now. I feel that my artistic world is just beginning to open up for me. I have been able to step up on a springboard built on technical competence and familiarity. I can now operate a little more on autopilot in these areas so that I may give myself over more fully to personal expression. I know myself better – I continue to explore and mature as an individual – and the ideas and values I wish to define myself by are becoming incorporated in my work. I would like to share with the Fenton Artist Guild who I am and how I got started on my artful journey. I’ll describe my various stages of development to date, showing previous and most current work. I’ll give you insight on how I work (where and when) and what materials and methods I use. I will discuss what drives me, who inspires me, and what I hope for in my future artistically. Most importantly I will discuss meaning in my work. My feelings about my subject matter and concepts of beauty and self-expression will be explored. How I feel about contemporary work and where my work does or doesn’t fit in will also be covered. I would be happy to answer and encourage questions from your group. Whether you have questions regarding the creative side of art, the business side of art (such as resume building, pricing, or sales), or the philosophical side of art, I hope to provide value to the dialogue by sharing my own experiences.
ARTIST BIO: Since the age of 12, the human body has fascinated Marnie Fender. In college she learned how to design artificial limbs, earning a degree in Biomedical and Electrical Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University. After 14 years at General Motors (in Manufacturing Engineering), Fender elected to leave her career as an engineer to be a stay-at-home mom. She was doubly blessed, finding it possible to pursue her artistic interests more seriously. In 7 years, she has amassed an impressive list of exhibitions; three two-person exhibitions, Marnie Fender & Bernadette Zachara-Marcos at JAM Gallery in Farmington, Mich., Figure and Form at Gallery 194 in Lapeer, Mich., and Shades of Difference at the Starkweather Art and Cultural Center in Romeo, Mich.; and five one-woman shows, Marnie Fender at DaVinci’s Art Gallery in Adrian, Mich., Marnie Fender at the Shiawassee Arts Center in Owosso, Mich., Embodyment at the Lansing Art Gallery in Lansing, Mich., Figuratively Speaking at the Tangent Gallery in Detroit, Mich., and The Human Form at the Artful Framer in Clarkston, Mich. Group shows include the National Art Premier 2007 at the Elmhurst Art Museum in Elmhurst, Illinois, the 16th National Juried Show at the Art Center of Northern New Jersey, the 47th Annual Greater Michigan Art Exhibition at the Alden B. Dow Museum of Science & Art in Midland, Mich., the Michigan Fine Arts Competition at the Birmingham-Bloomfield Art Center in Birmingham, Mich., and the Great Lakes Drawing Biennial at Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti, Mich. Fender has won numerous awards for her work including many First Place and Best of Show awards. Fender’s art education has been gained through self-study and classes at the Birmingham-Bloomfield Art Center in Birmingham, Mich. Fender lives in Davisburg, MI with her husband and son.
ARTIST STATEMENT: The creation process allows me to mine for my authentic self. There are infinite influences in our world. It is my mission as an artist to know what I am a lightning rod for - what impacts me most strongly, and how do I as an individual change the energy about me. My hopes and fears for myself, my family, and future generations influence my compositions. Each piece of work is a witness to my life, a testimony of sorts, and an exhibition of free will and soul. Much of my previous work is figurative in nature. While the soul or the spirit is and remains the true essence of one’s self, our body encapsulates its presence on earth. The body is representative of the soul it contains. Like a ship, it carries us through the journey of our lives. It becomes weathered. It is not infallible. Each body is unique and meaningful in its form. What a particular soul has experienced is often rendered on its surface. I like exploring the struggle of human souls with a simple piece of charcoal in provocative portraits that expose the heroic and vulnerable.
Marnie Fender 7455 Hall Rd. Davisburg, MI 48350 (248) 328-8187 marniefender@yahoo.com www.tagartists.com || Top ||
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November 20th-2006-"Spirit Dolls"

Five Guild members including, Mary Lou Ackerman, Sharon Dorland, Joan Horcha, Kathy Miller, and Jan Rolison presented their "Spirit Dolls ". Each
person started with a doll of their choice, a way to transport the doll, and identified their doll's "spirit". The dolls were traded monthly at a gathering and the process continued for several months. Each doll had an interesting journey, and an accompanying journal that documented that journey! All the dolls were displayed and a power point presentation was wonderful. We enjoyed our special out-of -state guest Kathy Millers parents. We sure enjoyed visiting with the “Spirit Dolls!”

AUGUST PROGRAM
August 15, 2006 What to Do When All Else Fails? Billie Thompson

Billie shared with us many of her works in a variety of mediums. She has been experimenting using several mediums on each piece, developing richness, textures, and depth. Color pencils, acrylics, pastel, collage, gesso, weavings, can be used together. She brought with her examples to show how she has used them. Billie shared many tips learned over the years from experience and expert teachers. If a piece of artwork doesn’t turn into a masterpiece now we have some ideas of what to do when all else fails!

July 18, 2006 - "Prismacolor Pencils and Drawing" by James Riek

James will share with us Techniques and Concerns when drawing with color pencils. Composing your picture and establishing the focal point by preplanning. He will walk us thru what types of pencils, erasers, supplies and tricks he has learned along his artistic journey. He began drawing seriously at the age of five; his parents supported his interest by enrolling him in art classes at the Toledo Museum of Art. His work has lead him to National, International and World Championships in carving waterfowl, wildlife photographic contests. He returned to painting watercolors and drawing with Prismacolor after the birth of his children, this lead to working for a national sports gallery in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He enjoys drawing portraits along with his wildlife, and also painting rural scenes, barns, and lighthouses. All his work reflects his eye for what most people miss and his desire to render his subjects, whatever they may be, with a deeper understanding of their uniqueness and importance. Please join us for our July meeting!

JULY PROGRAM

"Prismacolor Pencils and Drawing"
James Riek

James shared with us Techniques and Concerns when drawing with color pencils. Composing your picture and establishing the focal point by preplanning. He walked us thru what types of pencils, erasers, supplies and tricks he has learned along his artistic journey. He enjoys drawing portraits along with his wildlife, and also painting rural scenes, barns, and lighthouses. All his work reflects his eye for what most people miss and his desire to render his subjects, whatever they may be, with a deeper understanding of their uniqueness and importance. If you did not attend the meeting you missed an entertaining and enjoyable program by James!

“Making the Most of a Critique”

Mary Lou Ackerman

Mary Lou lead us on a journey to demystify the critique. She shared the Artist Critique Check List, Elements of Design, Principles of Design, and What Makes an Award-Winning Painting. We learned what to look for in our work to make our painting more pleasing to the eye by following the guidelines on the handouts. Painting has become so much a part of Mary Lou’s daily living. She loves the process of art. Mary Lou’s subject matter varies, from painting animals, landscapes, flowers to other things that she is drawn to by their shapes. The most important thing in art for her is personal expression and to share it with others.

We should chose people to look at our work that we respect, other guild members, or people in the art world. We should “Think construction not destruction”!