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I paint almost every day in my studio, where I maintain a rigorous studio practice. My work is a synthesis of life experiences that have bocome fully integrated into my painting and mixed media art. Making art has been my life's work from my early teenage years. I am restless when at work in my studio, always exploring new expressive possibilites through my unique visual language.
I hold a Bacheors of Art in Art Education from University of Florida and a Masters of Art in Art Education from University of Illinois and have continued my education throughout my life. As a professional aritst and teacher, the best of both worlds come together in my art and my teaching.
I also maintain a turpentine free, lead free, low toxicity, health and safety oriented oil painting studio. Adult and childrens painting classes are available. To find out more about health practices in the studio and classroom log on to the University of Illinois School of Public Health, Health in the Arts Web site at
http://chicagoartistsresource.org/visual-arts/node/15316 or download the paper I presented at the 2003 Health in the Arts Conference at UIC,
http://www.uic.edu/glakes/ce/seminars/hrts/soldnerthere are also links to many web sites that provide valuable information concerning healthy and safe product choices and their uses in the art studio and classroom.
Visitors entering my studio will find paintings and mixed media works in various stages of progress. I am always thinking and writing about my work with a strong emphasis on connecting ideas and experiences of everyday life. History, literature, music, my worldwide travels, and the vastness of human creativity throughout time influence my work.
The National Vietnam Veterans Art Museum in Chicago has exhibited my largest body of work, "Memories of an Era, Reflections of Our Time". The 16 large paintings that comprise "Memories" are availabe to museums as a travelling exhibition. Visit the web site at
http://www.nvvam.org/ for information.
Watch my web site and blog for upcoming group and solo exhibits. My paintings are for sale and I love to create one of a kind commissioned paintings. Please contact me for details.
Class News: Painting Classes in Oils or Acrylics Ages: 13 to adultLevel: Beginning to advanced Registration every 6 weeks with the next class beginning Monday October 6, 2009Wednesdays 4:00- 6:00 pm Cost 120.00 - 6 weeksTuesdays 10:00 am- 1:00 pm Cost 170.00 - 6 weeks4:00 pm - 6 pm Cost 120.00 - 6 weeks
All classes are ongoing so and are held in my large inspiring studio. I am a State of Illinois Certified, Continuing Professional Development Provider (CPDU),
(Professional Teacher Training)
Complete CV listing past teaching experience and more than 100 juried exhibits, available upon request.
Please contact me if you are interested in arranging for a teacher in -service for your school with an emphasis on integrating art into the curriculum .I am a public speaker with experience in film making and seminar presentations on art related topics. Check out my new YouTube video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qa7hTtgjgCgStephanie Fosnight, who is an award winning freelance journalist for Pioneer Press, contacted me last week for very pleasant phone interview. Stephanie was interested in my paintings that are now on exhibit at the Barrington Area Library. The story was published in the Arlington Heights Post, on June 25. You can read the article on the following link.
http://www.pioneerlocal.com/arlingtonheights/entertainment/1629846,entertainment-nwlake-soldner-062509-s1.articleMy artist profile about my largest body of work to date, "Memories of an Era, Reflections of Our Time" has been airing around the U. S. on PBS Real Simple Telivision for two years now. You can view it on You Tube at the following link: j
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxWozxGQTe8
Twice a month I meet with a group of artists to spend 3 wonderful hours drawing the figure. The quick snap shots that you see here show my son posing in his fencing uniform. We thought it would be an interesting change to draw a clothed figure wearing an intersting outfit. Here you can see some of my completed oil paintings and my most recent series in the early stages of painting.
This is my Mom, Maggie, modeling for me in my studio. I painted this in two sittings totaling about 2 hours. This simple statement I soon developed into a larger painting which has to do with women and war. This is a topic that is prevelant in my work and will always emerge in varous forms throughout my life and art.
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During the month of February I will show my latest painting "The Sergeant Major's Wife, 1918-2008". This is a 4 panel oil on canvas painting measuring 48" high and 86" in wide. I painted this in less than a month. There was was a deadline for completion, but I also had to paint this fast in order to capture the intuitive quality that a subject of such importance engenders. The inspiration for this work came after I painted my Mom's portrait from life, while she modeled in my studio. Working from old, faded and out of focus family photgraphs I developed these almost life size figures into vibrant color.
