Conrad Wilde Gallery presents artist Elee Oak

Elee Oak – Artist Statement

I have been studying my own childhood drawings since I was 22 in 1986. Like many artists, I have been trained to imitate the masters as part of my education. I have adopted the techniques I learned in order to better understand my own childhood drawings. I’ve practiced duplicating the line quality, revisited the storytelling process and relived the sensations with the intention of gaining insight into my child self. Slowly, I have become confident and use this insight in my daily work. Now these childlike elements come up effortlessly in my journal and other aspects of my work. In these mixed media works on wood panel, I incorporate the use of a matured, steady hand, experience and skill to honor Little Elee. By doing so the viewer is presented with an image that is both compositionally pleasing while at the same time intimately connected to an innocent and uninhibited awareness.

Resume

Education

1985-1988 School of Visual Arts - NYC- Sculpture Major

1983-1984 Art Center College of Design - Pasadena - Illustration Major

1982-1983 Minneapolis College of Art and Design - Painting Major

1979-1982 Des Moines Vocational Technical - Commercial Art Major

1975-1980 Des Moines Art Center - Adult level Arts Study

Solo Exhibitions

2002 Rincon Congregational Church- Tucson AZ

2002 East Miles Gallery- Tucson AZ

2002 The Epic Café- Tucson, AZ

Group Exhibitions

2005 Drawing Studio, Tucson AZ, Group Sculpture Show

2004 Arts Partnership Gallery, Tucson AZ, Group Show

2003 The Shane House, Tucson AZ, Group Show Women's Collective

1988 Morgan Avenue Park, NYC, Sculptural Installation

1988 School of Visual Arts, NYC, Sculpture Gallery

1987 School of Visual Arts, NYC, Sculpture Gallery

1986 School of Visual Arts, NYC, Sculpture Gallery

1985 School of Visual Arts, NYC, Sculpture Gallery

1983 Minneapolis College of Art and Design, Sculptural Installation

1982 Minneapolis College of Art and Design, Elizabeth Biron/Elee Oak

1981 Des Moines Art Center, Group Exhibition

1982 Iowa State Fair “Best of Show” and “Honorable Mention” Youth Honors

1982 1st Place in the State of Iowa Vocational Industrial Clubs of America Graphic Design Competition

1981 1st Place in the State of Iowa Vocational Industrial Clubs of America Graphic Design Competition

Professional Experience

2005-Present Instructor, The Drawing Studio, Tucson, AZ

2005-Present Production Assistant, Miles Conrad, Tucson, AZ

1975-Present Commissioned Portrait Artist, New York, San Francisco, Tucson

1975-Present Production Assistant, New York, San Francisco, Tucson

2000-2003 Instructor/Mentor, Art In Reality-Tucson, AZ

2002-2003 Drawing Instructor, Muse, Tucson, AZ



	Elee Oak – Artist Statement I have been studying my own childhood drawings since I was 22 in 1986. Like many artists, I have been trained to imitate the masters as part of my education. I have adopted the techniques I learned in order to better understand my own childhood drawings. I’ve practiced duplicating the line quality, revisited the storytelling process and relived the sensations with the intention of gaining insight into my child self. Slowly, I have become confident and use this insight in my daily work. Now these childlike elements come up effortlessly in my journal and other aspects of my work. In these mixed media works on wood panel, I incorporate the use of a matured, steady hand, experience and skill to honor Little Elee. By doing so the viewer is presented with an image that is both compositionally pleasing while at the same time intimately connected to an innocent and uninhibited awareness. Resume Education 1985-1988 School of Visual Arts - NYC- Sculpture Major 1983-1984 Art Center College of Design - Pasadena - Illustration Major 1982-1983 Minneapolis College of Art and Design - Painting Major 1979-1982 Des Moines Vocational Technical - Commercial Art Major 1975-1980 Des Moines Art Center - Adult level Arts Study Solo Exhibitions 2002 Rincon Congregational Church- Tucson AZ 2002 East Miles Gallery- Tucson AZ 2002 The Epic Café- Tucson, AZ Group Exhibitions 2005 Drawing Studio, Tucson AZ, Group Sculpture Show 2004 Arts Partnership Gallery, Tucson AZ, Group Show 2003 The Shane House, Tucson AZ, Group Show Women's Collective 1988 Morgan Avenue Park, NYC, Sculptural Installation 1988 School of Visual Arts, NYC, Sculpture Gallery 1987 School of Visual Arts, NYC, Sculpture Gallery 1986 School of Visual Arts, NYC, Sculpture Gallery 1985 School of Visual Arts, NYC, Sculpture Gallery 1983 Minneapolis College of Art and Design, Sculptural Installation 1982 Minneapolis College of Art and Design, Elizabeth Biron/Elee Oak 1981 Des Moines Art Center, Group Exhibition Honors 1982 Iowa State Fair “Best of Show” and “Honorable Mention” Youth Honors 1982 1st Place in the State of Iowa Vocational Industrial Clubs of America Graphic Design Competition 1981 1st Place in the State of Iowa Vocational Industrial Clubs of America Graphic Design Competition Professional Experience 2005-Present Instructor, The Drawing Studio, Tucson, AZ 2005-Present Production Assistant, Miles Conrad, Tucson, AZ 1975-Present Commissioned Portrait Artist, New York, San Francisco, Tucson 1975-Present Production Assistant, New York, San Francisco, Tucson 2000-2003 Instructor/Mentor, Art In Reality-Tucson, AZ 2002-2003 Drawing Instructor, Muse, Tucson, AZ





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