4075 110th Ave NE Kerkhoven, MN 56252 320.847.3432 prairiefare.com/artpage.htm carye_mahoney@yahoo.com Realistic & illustrative artwork, with intense color & warmth. Exhibiting at Milwaukee Train Depot Directions: 301 State Road (Main Street Montevideo) Artist Biography: Born and raised in rural Minnesota, I graduated from MACCRAY High School in 1995.I went on to Minnesota State University, Moorhead, where I earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts Illustration in 2000. After graduation I worked as a graphic designer and freelance artist and illustrator in Fargo, ND. In 2001, I moved to Guelph, Ontario, Canada where I became involved with the vibrant art community; I joined the Guelph Creative Arts Association and the Guelph Artisans co-op in 2004. In the Spring of 2008, I took a whirlwind trip through Europe and came home intensely inspired by the art, history, and culture I saw. I recently moved from Guelph to Platteville, WI where I am looking for local shops and galleries to carry my greeting cards, bookmarks, original works, and reproductions. Currently my work can be found at Pastures A Plenty in rural Kerkhoven, MN and the Driftless Market in Platteville, WI. I participate in area art shows and sales. I also do commissioned portraits, illustration and graphic design work, in a wide range of media. I will be focusing much of my attention this year on developing a website and submitting my work to book publishers. ARTIST'S STATMENT Like many artists, I've been drawing for as long as I can remember. Art was my favorite subject in school; and even though I wasn't sure how I was going to use it, I chose to major in Art at University. By the time I reached my third year at Moorhead, I decided I wanted to combine my love of art with my other big love, books. Ultimately, my goal is to become a book illustrator. My art is realistic and illustrative in style with a touch of the fantastical. My subject matter includes animals, people, and nature. I primarily use a mixture of coloured pencil, watercouler and ink to create images that are softly textured, while at the same time highly detailed and intensely vibrant. The ink washes add extra depth and an element of mystery. This mixed media approach is quite time consuming so when I want a more immediate result I like to use acrylic paints or chalk pastels. I feel I've created a successful image when it evokes a mood or memory for the viewer. But I'm even happier with a piece when it seems to have been plucked right from the page of a book, and the viewer can't help but wonder what the story is about. I get inspiration from my obsessive reading habit, my niece and nephews, the farm I grew up, my love animals, and my travels.