June 2004

Artist’s Background and Statement

Becky Blaine is an art educator in District 303 and teaches art at St. Charles East High School. She has an undergraduate degree in Art Education from Illinois State University and a Masters Degree and Master of Fine Arts Degree in Studio Art (Drawing and Printmaking) from Northern Illinois University.

She is active in the Illinois Art Education Association and is also a member of the National Art Education Association. She is a member of the Norris Gallery Committee of the Dellora Norris Cultural Arts Center, and also is a member of the Campbell House Gallery Committee. She is a member of the Fox Valley Arts Council and the Fine Line Arts Center in St. Charles. At St. Charles East High School, she is a member of P-ARTS (People for the Arts, the fine arts booster group for both high schools), and is also the STC East sponsor of the National Art Honor Society Chapter.

Artist’s Statement

The work in this exhibit is in two parts. The photographs represent a life long interest I have had in observing nature and objects in daily life. My drawings and prints are inspired by my observations and have at times been the source for imagery I use in the drawn, painted and printed work.

The prints in the exhibit are called “monoprints” because they are “unique” (one of a kind) works made by printing from found objects and various textured surfaces or by drawing into xerographic prints made from previous drawings. Some of these prints may be called mixed media because ink, pastels or other art materials have been incorporated into the work. Several works were created from printed images that were “collaged” to form new images and then printed again. Exploring texture, building layers of media and renderings, and mark making are important elements of the creation of the images in my work, whether the strokes and marks are a part of the original image or result from the manipulation of the image to create a new work.

For information about work in this exhibit, contact Becky Blaine at 630/377-4852.

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