Are you an artist, arts organization or venue?

artist

What town do you live in?

Westfield

In which disciplines do you work or exhibit?

Drawing, Painting, Photography, Clay, Words, Other

Artist Statement/Bio

I am an artist and writer. I exhibit and teach at the Gaslight Gallery in Westfield, MA . I also design and create dance and theater costumes.

ART STATEMENT

"My art is based on the exploration of various artistic mediums and methods. Beauty is all around us. To be able to see it, and capture the idea or image and share with others is a joy to me. I explore what medium best shows the the idea of feeling, and enhances the image. Sometimes it is a painting, others a collage. It could be digital painting, a photograph, a sculpture. Art is an experience, and I thank you for sharing it with me."


MEDIA AND METHODS
In addition to working with the traditional artist media of photography, pens, pencils and paints, I also explore collage and textile arts. Once I have created a piece in one of these mediums, I try to translates it into a digital media, to further explore the possibilities.

BACKGROUND

"I attended Stephen F. Austin University, Nacogdoches, TX with a Double Major of English and Art, with a Teaching Emphasis My Art studies were broad field art, including drawing, painting, textile arts and graphic arts. Courses taken included: Elementary School Child Growth and Development, Approaches to Teaching Reading, Multi-Cultural Education, Secondary Art Projects, Art in Public Schools, Elementary Art Projects, Music for the Classroom Teacher.

I left my idea of teaching behind due to the political climate of the educational system in Texas at that time. It left me at a bit of a loss as to what I wanted to do, so I entered a series of more practical jobs.

Since leaving school I have continued to take classes and workshops in an ever widening area of arts and crafts, teaching many of them in volunteer settings. In several of the last classes I have attended, the teachers have said to me that I really should be teaching the class, not taking the class. This led me to realize that I have finally come back to that original goal of teaching art and encouraging creativity in our lives. "

Website

http://rennatatropeano.com