CAROL BITZ

I have no formal art education. When I was old enough to hold a pencil, I would draw. I grew up in an unsophisticated milieu in a small town in North Dakota. The schools could not afford an art teacher. I enjoyed sketching portraits of students in high school. When I hear the boys were throwing darts at my own self-portrait, I decided the likeness must have been recognizable. I have not done another self-portrait since!

When I was a teenager, and 80 year old sign painter ordered a set of oil paints for me from a catalog. He advised me not to touch them until he had time for me. Two wees later he died. I tried to learn painting by myself on old file folders. In 1969, I did a paining of a deaf child. I had used my fingers instead of brushes on an 18 x 20 piece of cardboard. Someone encouraged me to enter it in the Annual Jamestown ND Art Show. That painting was invited by a judge to travel to the first International Art Exhibit that was held at the International Peace Garden between North Dakota and Manitoba, Canada. It went!

Since then, of course, I discovered canvases and have won a lot of awards. The first painting instructions I took were from Vivian Marie of Oak Harbor, WA in 1986. She taught Old Masters’ techniques to a small group of senior citizens. She let me join the class. I am currently attending classes taught by Edi Olson of Vancouver, WA. Professional Artist, Stan Capon, is m neighbor who advises me upon request.

I am a member of four art organizations, and serve a President of the Gresham Society of Artists, as wel as Judging Chairman of the Portland Fine Arts Guild.

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