BEAUTY

IN YOUR LIFE YOU CAN’T BECOME THE PERSON YOU ARE MEANT TO BE

One of the highlights in her career came when artist Timothy Ray called Schwankl and asked if he could include a piece of her art in a book he was working on. He selected Gregarious Modulation to be featured. The book was published in 2010 with the title: Abstract 100: 31 Artists, Abstract Art, Southern Red River Valley 1954 – 2010. "When the book was published," Schwankl said, "I felt like I'd earned my degree!"

Recently Schwankl studied with Jonas Gerard of Asheville, NC. "I'm doing some new techniques of layering and removing. It's very special and I don't quite know how it happens. I paint intuitively. I do a step, put on a layer or take one off, and I know it is the 'right' thing to do. I love how the new paintings are working out."

Silver and gold are recurring colors in much of Schwankl's works. "I like metallic," she said. "It could be that I like metals because of my dad’s work. I always think my dad could have been an artist if he had lived long enough."

"There are days I do art," Schwankl said, "and days when no art gets created. I’m a one person show and I have to do everything: book work, marketing, talking to customers, making sales, volunteer duties. My husband, Bill, an alternative energy contractor, has been very supportive. Without him I don’t know how I could be an artist."

"I tell young artists to be open to joining the community of artists where they live and to support each other. I have been gifted with friends and a community that have supported me. I have a friend who gave me her vehicle. I’ve had help with medical. I have benefited from the talent and generosity of other artists as well as from the Red River Watercolor Society, the Arts Partnership, and the FM Visual Artists who put on the Studio Crawl. I participate in "That Spring Art Thing" at the Ramada, and the Watercolor Society's Moorhead Mall Show in June. I take part in the Gala at the Plains Art Museum and sell my artwork at HurleGot ity’s and Gallery 4."

Schwankl believes in giving back to the community. She is a signature member of the Red River Watercolor Society as well as a past board member. She has served as a juror at various art exhibitions. As an artist, she is also asked to donate her time and work to various charities. "Over the years, I've given thousands of dollars worth of art work to the FM community for charities and good causes," Schwankl said. "It's part of being an artist in a community."

Schwankl also supports other artists by investing in their art. "My home is full of art," she said. My own and my son Adam's work. I own paintings from David Norstad, Don Aasland, Ellen Diederich and Raleigh Kinney, among others. I have glass pieces from Jon Offutt and John Olson. It's a beautiful thing to be a part of an artistic community."

Artis Integral To Who We Are As Human Beings

Although much of Schwankl's art is not all expressly religious, she believes that her faith and her art are intertwined. "Faith is who I am. In one way or another, even if it is not a religious painting, my faith shows through," Schwankl said. "Anything that is beautiful is divinely given to us. God intends us to see beauty. Truth and beauty are intermingled. If art is real, it has beauty. Art is integral to who we are as human beings. If you don’t have beauty in your life you can’t become the person you are meant to be."

Schwankl's children are grown now. Tyler graduated from NDSU in emergency management and Adam is an artist doing impressionistic work at www.adamschwankl.com. Looking back over her career Schwankl said, "I’m kind of surprised at how it has unfolded and I think that what has happened to me is miraculous. I’m intrigued with what God has planned for me next. I feel like I’m just getting started. There is so much more I want to do. God can take so little and do so much with it."

You can experience Schwankl's art by visiting ARTrends Gallery at 3481 S. University Drive, Fargo. You will see not only a working studio but also a gallery with a variety of work for sale including the watercolor works of the late Don Aasland, Jon Offutt glass, and a wide variety of Schwankl's own work. "A gift of art is a great selection because it supports local artists and it's a gift that is personal, long lasting, and beautiful." Elizabeth Schwankl has taken the ashes of childhood tragedy and built a life of beauty. "That's what artists do," Schwankl said. "Artists bring beauty into the world." {AWP}

YOU CAN CONTACT ELIZABETH SCHWANKL at 701-235-4356, or visit her website at www.elizabethschwanklart.com

John 14:6