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JEANINE HILL-SOLDNER

Fine Artist & Art Educator

Bio:

Born in Quantico, Virginia and raised on and near military bases my family moved frequently. These frequent moves taught me to quietly observe the people and places in my ever changing world. This quiet and informed observation has influenced my work. I received my first award for a drawing competition at the age of 12. A gift of oil paints from my grandfather started my first painting explorations and love for art. By the age of 15 I began acrylic painting classes in the studio of Florida artist Lanier Densmore.

I have a Bachelors in Art Education from the University of Florida in Gainesville and a Masters of Art in Art Education from the University of Illinois, Champaign, Urbana. After college I lived with my husband in England where I was fortunate to work on independent study on art and art history at the Liverpool Poytechnical Institute (now the University of Liverpool). My home is now near Chicago in Algonquin, Illinois.

I wrote and directed the Meet the Masters K-8 Art Program 15 years ago and it is still provided art for St. Margaret Mary School in Algonquin, IL. I love teaching art to all ages, children to adults. My art has informed my teaching, which in turn has influenced my art practice. The unique relationship I have found between my art and teaching brings the best of both worlds together. I have always been passionate about art and have never stopped producing new works while developing new ideas and techniques. I have also continuously promoted my work through galleries and museums.

Artist Statement :

My art has been described as innovative, powerful and thought provoking. By bridging the boundaries between abstraction and representation I reveal life’s experiences with my unique visual language. I want to create new meanings from the everyday milieu, and capture the viewer’s imagination with rich content that illustrates life’s experiences through visual narrative. All subjects fill my portfolio, with the portrait and figure being dominant. All of my work is original as I work from life, drawings, photographs, and a lot of imagination. I also believe that art is healing, and that art in all of its forms provide a connections to all of humanity throughout time.

I work full time as a professional artist in my spacious art studio, Soldner Fine Art Studio located on the garden level of the Lakeside Legacy Arts Park and Historic Dole Mansion. I am always happy to show visitors my gallery of work that I keep on exhibit in my studio. I also teach private and group painting and drawing classes, lecture, and provide demonstrations of my painting and drawing techniques.

“Painting is a singular contemplative activity providing me with the unique opportunity to explore the limitless possibilities of space and time. From the idea in my mind’s eye to the final painting, there is no end to what can be achieved with oil paint’s sensuous richness . Painting brings me closer the deepest and most sublime moments in life.

My art reflects my life. I want to create new meanings from the everyday milieu, and capture the viewer’s imagination. I find a unique visual richness of the everyday world around me, and in the people, places and events that shape our time.”

Jeanine Hill-Soldner 2011