Lauren Ennist
I started oil painting at the age of twelve. I still use much of the technique taught to me by my first instructor. I painted many pieces throughout my childhood and took drawing, painting, and photography classes. Art was my one true pleasure. I attended the College of New Rochelle and earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree.
My introduction to oil pastels was a set of 120 half piece pastels given to me by a friend who could not “make them work”. The range of color was so exciting. The creamy texture and similarities to oil paint’s, blending and mediums, was reassuringly familiar. The freedom to use any support and any mix of medium was liberating. It would take me a long time and a great deal of “playing” on my own to discover all this.
Initially I used the pastels to “color in” as a child would. Later I learned to use them to create form. During college, and for many years after, my oil pastel pieces were sketches used for planning finished oil paintings. For the last five years I have used oil pastels for finished art pieces. I have not shown any of them yet.
For twenty two years I owned and operated a crafts business, Flying Geese Design. I designed and manufactured quilts, dolls, wall hangings and water colored illustrations. I wholesaled and retailed my product line throughout the tri-state area. I taught and ran art workshops for adults as well as children. For the last two years I have been making the transition into a full time fine arts career. I have participated in two shows and have won three awards. I consider myself an emerging artist because, even with all my experience teaching and painting, I have not been widely exhibited.
Art Shows:
CNR Centennial Art
Show
November, 2004
Community Arts Association National Open Awards
March, 2005
Awards:
Masterpiece Art Competition, Third Place Oil
Painting
January, 2005
Masterpiece Art Competition, People’s Choice Oil Painting
January, 2005
The Seward& Kissel, LLP Oil
Award
March, 2005
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