Conroy Artist Statement
Creating art is very important for me. I was a hairstylist, received a BFA in art and graphic design, worked for 20 years as a graphic designer. Now I am enjoying drawing and painting.
I was a graphic designer for the Department of Veterans Affairs for 19 years, but my true passion throughout my life has been the study and practice of portrait and figurative art.
The artistic community in St. Louis has enabled me to continue to train in the classical study of the human form. I started with the Gateway Academy of Classical Art (GACA) in 2020. I am so delighted to have an atelier in St. Louis. I would normally travel in the summer to painting workshops in Philadelphia at the Studio Incamminati started by Nelson Shanks. Some workshops I have attended were taught by Natalie Italiano, JaFang Lu, Kerry Dunn and Jeff Hein.
Our St. Louis Art Museum has been one of my inspirations for creativity. I have painted in our art museum many times. Copyist painting is a wonderful method of study for composition, color, form and value. I have taken classes in the last 12 years from Tito Gay, William Neukomm, Philip Perschbacher, BJ Parker, Patricia Watwood, Steven Assael and Jon DeMartin.
Our St. Louis Artist Guild and The Gateway Academy of Classical Art (GACA) have been great places to meet other artists and paint from the model.
I recently had a painting selected for the SLAG Members Only exhibition 2022.
I now attend weekly classes at GACA under the instruction of B.J. Parker PhD.
When I was working as a graphic designer for the Department of Veterans Affairs, my passion for creating meaningful and creative designs were appreciated by my clients. I won 1st place in the VHA communication awards for creativity. I hand painted a series of Veterans’ portraits used to motivate employees nationwide concerning ethics and compliance. I would design for conferences and one large design project was used on the back cover of the VA Vanguard magazine. I also won a NAGC Blue Pencil and Gold screen award for an interactive product for the VA Caregiver Support program. I was sent to Washington DC to accept the award at the National Press Club.
Creating artwork for the Hyde Park neighborhood in the 1980’s and receiving an IABC Bronze quill award for student work. Awards were given at the Missouri Botanical Garden in 1985. Examples were the creation of airbrushed posters for the Children’s Creativity Center, the Art Center, Bremen theatre and a Kids’ day poster. These and all the other products for this project were displayed in the University Center at SIUE.
I created a medallion for the North American Lourdes volunteers. I used Photoshop but I drew within the program in order to create the artwork. Many layers were used to create the figures and the scenery.
I have always been drawn to the human face and figure.
Three characteristics of myself that defines me as an artist-
1. Passion for art and my constant love of learning
2. Seeing beauty in the human form
3. Work ethic and attention to detail.
Art is beauty. Art inspires. Art distracts from the noise.
Art has woven itself into my life. I have been a hairstylist, graphic designer and now a painter.
I enjoy every process of this lifelong learning.
I was a graphic designer for the Department of Veterans Affairs for 19 years, but my true passion throughout my life has been the study and practice of portrait and figurative art.
The artistic community in St. Louis has enabled me to continue to train in the classical study of the human form. I started with the Gateway Academy of Classical Art (GACA) in 2020. I am so delighted to have an atelier in St. Louis. I would normally travel in the summer to painting workshops in Philadelphia at the Studio Incamminati started by Nelson Shanks. Some workshops I have attended were taught by Natalie Italiano, JaFang Lu, Kerry Dunn and Jeff Hein.
Our St. Louis Art Museum has been one of my inspirations for creativity. I have painted in our art museum many times. Copyist painting is a wonderful method of study for composition, color, form and value. I have taken classes in the last 12 years from Tito Gay, William Neukomm, Philip Perschbacher, BJ Parker, Patricia Watwood, Steven Assael and Jon DeMartin.
Our St. Louis Artist Guild and The Gateway Academy of Classical Art (GACA) have been great places to meet other artists and paint from the model.
I recently had a painting selected for the SLAG Members Only exhibition 2022.
I now attend weekly classes at GACA under the instruction of B.J. Parker PhD.
When I was working as a graphic designer for the Department of Veterans Affairs, my passion for creating meaningful and creative designs were appreciated by my clients. I won 1st place in the VHA communication awards for creativity. I hand painted a series of Veterans’ portraits used to motivate employees nationwide concerning ethics and compliance. I would design for conferences and one large design project was used on the back cover of the VA Vanguard magazine. I also won a NAGC Blue Pencil and Gold screen award for an interactive product for the VA Caregiver Support program. I was sent to Washington DC to accept the award at the National Press Club.
Creating artwork for the Hyde Park neighborhood in the 1980’s and receiving an IABC Bronze quill award for student work. Awards were given at the Missouri Botanical Garden in 1985. Examples were the creation of airbrushed posters for the Children’s Creativity Center, the Art Center, Bremen theatre and a Kids’ day poster. These and all the other products for this project were displayed in the University Center at SIUE.
I created a medallion for the North American Lourdes volunteers. I used Photoshop but I drew within the program in order to create the artwork. Many layers were used to create the figures and the scenery.
I have always been drawn to the human face and figure.
Three characteristics of myself that defines me as an artist-
1. Passion for art and my constant love of learning
2. Seeing beauty in the human form
3. Work ethic and attention to detail.
Art is beauty. Art inspires. Art distracts from the noise.
Art has woven itself into my life. I have been a hairstylist, graphic designer and now a painter.
I enjoy every process of this lifelong learning.
