http://www.suzanneshedosky.zoomshare.com/

Artist's Statement: Painting 'En plein air' is challenging and exhilarating, taking all the skills of painting & drawing while honing those same skills!

BIOGRAPHY

Suzanne was born September 11th, 1955 in Joliet, Illinois and raised in nearby rural Lockport. In 1987 moved about 100 miles west and since 2004 has lived in a crooked  faded little white farm-house with her husband, Bruce Apgar, (and many critters) in rural Prophetstown. They prefer the peaceful isolation of the vast farm fields and lowlands of the converging Rock & Mississippi Rivers.

Her early years were spent riding and drawing any equine companion she could attach herself to - learning the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual aspects of these creatures and other animals and Nature in general.

  "from the roots, up..." In 1945,  Mickey Rich, brother of drummer Buddy Rich introduced her mother, Doris Ranum, to her father, Edwin Shedosky, (Eddie Shaw or "Smitty") at Peterson Air Base in Colorado Springs, CO. He was drafted into the Army Air Corp, playing in that band. He had been playing with Vaughn Monroe's Orchestra, (1943 - 1953), Gene Krupa's Band, the NBC Orchestra in New York & many other big bands on the East coast.  She was a carpenter's daughter from the high-plains of Nebraska who was working at the officer's club & studying to become a nurse. After marrying in 1946, they resided in New Jersey.  They then moved to Illinois when Monroe's band dis-banded and Ed, again worked for NBC as a staff muscian in Chicago in the 50's. Doris' parents & siblings were residing in rural Lockport, so that is where they settled. On an acre of land, they built a home (Ed learned carpentry from his father-in-law, Guy C. Ranum. Suzanne has gained a love for building things herself, also, from being around these influences.) and barn to raise their growing family; five other children; four boys, Bill, Rick, Ed no.2, Tom and another girl, Jenny, and various pets.

Although music was the main focus of the family, Suzanne's mother introduced her to painting and drawing at an early age, and also later on, introduced her to artist Gerald Merfeld, whom she had been taking classes from herself. Mr. Merfeld guided Suzanne through learning the skills and disciplines of a visual artist; the handling of the mediums, composition, etc. and the more intangible aspects of becoming a fine artist, that only a successful artist himself can impart.

Suzanne regards painting and drawing as her vocation, raising and training her horses and other animals her avocation.  Her "job" is driving a school-bus with pre-school age children during winter months and since 1987during the summer worked as a camera operator for a company that videotapes (3 Day Event, etc.) Horse Shows*.   These activities include teaching, at times, and passing on her intense passion for all.

*As of June, 2009, Suzanne has given up the video work to concentrate on getting out and painting from life and developing paintings in her tiny studio in her home. In the past few years, many personal issues had kept her from devoting time and attention to her art, so she has made the "leap of Faith" to get back to producing work.

STUDIED........with Gerald Merfeld; 1976 - 1992

POSITIONS.........was studio assistant and taught classes at Merfeld Atelier; 1983 - 1992. 

Taught classes at Sauk Valley Community College, Dixon, Illinois & for local Art groups.

Has also done painting demonstrations through-out Illinois and Indiana.

AWARDS:

    "Best of Show" 1993 ; "Board of Directors' Award" 1992; Oil Painters of America, Regional Shows, Chicago, Il.

   "Silver Medal of Honor for Oil" 1992; "Anne and Richard Sauter Award for a Pastel" 1984; Allied Artists of America, New York, N.Y.     

 "Award for Landscape in Oil" 1986; Catharine Lorillard Wolfe Art Club, New York, N.Y.

"Special Excellence Award for Drawing" 1987; Harness Tracks of America, Lexington, Kentucky

Second Place, 1986; Midwest Pastel Society National Show, Chicago, Il.

"Charles Francis Browne Purchase Award" 1989, '91, '94, '97; Grand Detour, Il.

"Ella Shaw Memorial Best of Show" 1988, '91, "Phidian Purchase Award", 1991; "Harold Cook Award", 1992 & '94; "Lucille Warner Award", 1988; "Telegraph Award- 1st Place", 1995; "Best of Show" 1997; "Past Presidents' Award" 1997; "Ann Roe Memorial Award", 2007;  "Caryl Crawford Fleming  Memorial Award" for Best Nature Subject 2008;  "Mary DeFrancisco Memorial Honorable Mention Class I Award", 2009 ~~~Phidian Art Club, Dixon, Il.  ~  

EXHIBITIONS:       

Allied Artists of America, New York, N.Y.; '84, '87, '91, '92

Oil Painters of America, Chicago, Il.; '92, '93, '94   

Sangre De Cristo Arts and Conference Center, Pueblo, Colorado;  1993  

Akron Society of Artists, Akron, Ohio; 1992

Wichita Art Assoc., Wichita, Kansas; 1988

Midwest Pastel Society, Chicago, Il.; '86, '87

Harness Tracks of America, Lexington, Kentucky; 1987

American Professional League, New York, N.Y.; 1986

Happy Canyon Western Art Invitational &Pendleton Round-Up Rodeo, Pendleton, Oregon; 1997 

Art for the Sangres Exhibition and Sale Invitational, Westcliffe, Colorado; '97 & '98 

PUBLICATIONS:

"Floral Inspirations" Rockport Publishers

"The Best of Oil Painting" by Nicholas & Terelak, Rockport Publishers

"Who's Who in American Art" R.R. Bowker Pub.

Western Horseman Magazine June 1996 ; featured in the  "Gallery"  section by Betty Harvey

Phidian Art Club 1890--2009-Art Show History 1947 -- 2009 Loveland Community House Art Gallery

By Colleen and Bob Logsdon and Nancy Mayfield

COLLECTIONS:

Oregon Public Library, Oregon, Illinois

Loveland Community House, Dixon, Illinois

private collections through-out America, Canada, Poland, Scotland & Finland.