#45. Sugar Cane Painting

Ilona (Lonnie) spent 30+ years in print shops and newspapers working for the state of NH’s 2nd largest daily paper, The Concord Monitor. She was a paste up artist and ad designer. She accepted a job at a state run college, NHTI (New Hampshire Technical Institute), in Concord and was the sole artist doing all materials, folders, announcements, brochures and she redesigned the college catalogue turning it from a black and white nightmare to a piece of fine artwork that was never seen on that level at the college before. She spent her spare time designing logos for local businesses (Omni Services, RockTech, Aesthetic Dental, Capital Well, East Coast Metal, Bianco Prof. Assn, Maine Drilling and more). After the passing of her husband of 26 yrs Oil mixing and clean up was overwhelming. She was re-inspired finding acrylics at a yard sale. Even more exciting was an alcohol ink class and now she is focusing on mixed-media pieces (alcohol ink,Luminaire, acrylic and/or pastels.). Her work is loose, impressionistic, yet often representational. Having discovered the challenge of alcohol inks she enjoys more freedom. She's not a one trick pony adhering to one style or subject; which is atypical. There are many ways to envision the dimensions of life and her presentations reveal her vision and new place in the world. She went through an artistic metamorphous as her life changed re-emerging from oils to acrylics to mixed-media with inks. Since she lives between the ocean and river in FL seeing many sunrises, sunsets and water views to capture in photo and paint- never doubting for a second that every day is different. She lives with 2 bossy German shepherds, one who sleeps in bed taking almost completely over 'her space'.