Clark County Press, Neillsville, WI

April 27, 2011, Page 2

Contact: Dolores Mohr Kenyon

Area Artists to display artwork

By Peter Spicer

 Area artists will show off their artwork during the Clark County Economic Development Corporation (CCEDC) and Tourism Bureau’s Studio Art Tour.  The first annual art tour will be held Saturday, April 30, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, May 1, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.  The event, held in the artists’ homes, is free and open to the public.

 According to the CCEDC, the Studio Art Tour will feature many of Clark County’s finest artists and their creations. The self-guided tour meanders through the scenic country roads and through quaint communities to the studios of painters, potters, wood-workers, metal workers, jewelers and more.

Those attending should follow the map and discover where the artists live and work, view their processes and inspirations and have the unique opportunity to purchase directly from the artist.

For a brochure/map and more information, call the Clark County Economic Development Corporation and Tourism Bureau at 715-255-9100, or e-mail clarkwi@tds.net

Brochures/maps are also available at many area businesses. Detailed information about the artist and their locations – along with the map – are available at Website www.clark-cty-wi-org.

The art tour will feature approximately 15 artists, including five Neillsville and Granton residents’ work. Neillsville and Granton artists include: Wendell Ziegler, Neillsville; Bill and Betty Jonas, Granton; Mary Hinkle of Neillsville and Golden Dreams Fine Art Studio; guest artist Sue Shrank, Neillsville; and Deborah Olson of Neillsville and Stolp Pottery.

 As a guest artist, Shrank will show her work at Hinkle’s Golden Dreams fine Art Studio in Neillsville. Shrank’s work will include paintings, drawings, prints and small hand-painted birdhouses.

 Shrank who grew up in Neillsville and returned to Neillsville in 1980, was a K-12 speech and language pathologist for 27 years at the Neillsville School District, and then worked part-time for another five years at the Granton Area School District before retiring a couple years ago.

 Shrank’s mother, Barbara Siebert, still resides in Neillsville.  Her father, Earl, worked at The Shopper in Neillsville for many years.

 Shrank helped out with art projects throughout her teaching career; including turning old Christmas cards into place mats for nursing home residents.

 “I had a passion for at,” said Shrank, who enjoys a variety of art styles.  “I just dab in all different things right now.”

 Shrank’s artwork on the tour will reflect the variety of art styles she enjoys and will feature oil, acrylic and pastel paintings.

 One of Shrank’s artistic accomplishments includes a mural she painted on a Methodist Church room wall, on which she painted trees, a picket fence and birdhouses. 

 Shrank also enjoys rosemaling, which is a Swedish decorative painting style.  The paintings are completed delicately with a brush, said Shrank, who explained each section or state in Sweden has a different style of painting.

 “[Rosemaling] is very technical,” Shrank explained.

 However, Shrank doesn’t consider herself a technical artist, stating, “I’m more of an impressionist.”

 Shrank and her friend, Hinkle both decided to participate in the art tour; Hinkle, who has a studio, then asked Shrank to be a guest artist.

 “I’m just so thankful for Mary Hinkle,” Shrank said, who explained she will appreciate showing her artwork in an actual studio; she doesn’t have a studio in her home.

 Shrank plans to enjoy the art tour and continue to grow as an artist.

 “I’m trying to find my niche,” said Shrank.  “I’m doing this [art tour] for fun.”

 Hinkle earned her bachelor’s degree in fine art from Roosevelt University in Chicago, IL. She has owned Neillsville’s Golden Dreams Fine Art Studio – located at N3046 Opelt Avenue – for 13 years and is looking forward to letting others know more about her art.

 “I think [the art tour is] a great idea,” said Hinkle, who runs a custom frame shop at Golden Dreams.

 Hinkle gains inspiration from her art work from the beautiful Neillsville scenery and scenery throughout the state.

 Hinkle uses a variety of paints to depict what she sees in her surroundings and will display original paintings, landscape pictures, pastels, drawings and prints during the art tour.

 Hinkle is looking forward to helping Shrank display her art work and stated “[Shrank’s] done art work for years,” but is now ‘getting into it’ even more.

 The art tour will be a great opportunity for many area artists to show the community “our life’s work,” Hinkle concluded.

Mary Hinkle (above in 2009), who owns Neillsville’s Golden Dreams Fine Art Studio, will display her artwork at the Clark County Economic Development Corporation and Tourism Bureau’s Studio Art Tour, to be held Saturday, April 30, and Sunday May 1. Hinkle invited fellow Neillsville resident Sue Shrank to be the guest artist at her studio.  Shrank (below) holds a still-life oil painting and poses with other artwork at her home; including an oil painting, (left above), an acrylic painting (left, below), painted birdhouses (far left), a pastel painting (right) and a rosemaling painting (right, below). (Peter Spicer/Clark County Press photo above & contributed photo below)

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First-ever CCEDC Art Tour well-attended (4 May 2011)