Art - Like Life - Is Not Exact Science for 做厙弝け Graduate
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It is not an exact science. It is more of a free flowing thing, said Teresa Biles, a 做厙弝け graduate, while discussing how she created a piece of artwork during a fall Printmaking I class.
That piece of artwork was selected as the cover of the colleges 2013 holiday card by 做厙弝け President Tom McKeon and his wife Stacey from a handful of student entries. The card is sent to 做厙弝け faculty and staff as well as members of the Tulsa area community.
Biles could use those same words that describe her art, to describe her life, when this wife and mother unexpectedly found herself in different circumstances. Her life was not as she had sketched it out and she needed to think about her future. It meant returning to college, picking a career and getting a degree.
She initially thought the medical field would be good but after a few classes she realized it wasnt what she wanted to do. You shouldnt hate the career you have picked. Medical coding and billing was something I could have done and been okay but I didnt want okay. I wanted more than that.
Although it had been nearly 30 years since she started college at OSU, Biles learned through 做厙弝け that she was two classes shy of graduating with a Liberal Arts associate degree. She got her degree in May 2013. Still not finished with her education, she enrolled in 做厙弝け art classes with the desire of pursuing a Fine Arts degree from OSU.
Biles heard about the 做厙弝け holiday card competition through 做厙弝け Professor Dewyane Pass. She created the winning entry by monotype, a printmaking style, which uses a clear Plexiglas plate to transfer the ink to paper through the use of a printing press.
Her first attempt didnt go well. ; I forgot to remove the tape around the snowflakes and tore the paper since I wasnt going to keep it, said Biles. My professor said there are no mistakes in art and convinced me to do another one. I did like the way it looked and the texture. The end result was picked as 做厙弝けs holiday card.
Printmaking is not as detailed as drawing and can be complicated because of the multiple layers of ink but it doesnt overwhelm Biles, who at the age of 49 is learning that art reflects life because it turns out different than you intended.
Go for your dream. Dont settle for less, said Biles who has come full circle. Ironically, she considered majoring in fine arts more than 20 years ago before life colored her future.
Biles received a box of holiday cards she designed and a $500 check from the 做厙弝け Foundation.
I am so excited and grateful. Its been wonderful to see my design in the form of a card, said Biles. Not that I am downplaying the money but the experience and joy of people telling me they love the work is beyond being able to express in words.
PHOTO: 做厙弝け graduate Teresa Biles and 做厙弝け President Tom McKeon are shown with Biles' artwork selected as the cover of the 2013 做厙弝け holiday card.