Artist finds healing in art at W. Chicago gallery
Artist Margaret Bucholz draws from her unique cultural background to blend vibrant colors with the technique often seen in watercolors. Her exhibit, “Pets, Portraits and Petals”, will be on display at Gallery 200, 200 Main St., West Chicago, from April 1-30, featuring paintings in watercolors and oils.
Bucholz was born and raised in Japan where she attended an international school until age 9. Her Japanese mother was a master in Ikebana, a disciplined art form in which nature and humanity are brought together. Her father was an officer in the United States Air Force and was later transferred to Hawaii, where Bucholz eventually received her fine arts degree in drawing and painting from the University of Hawaii.
After a fall trip to visit family in the Midwest, Bucholz was fascinated with the changing of colors and the seasons, and chose to remain in the area permanently, where she enjoys the pace of life and employment opportunities and currently works as an Administrative Assistant. Remarking on how her past plays a part in her artwork, Bucholz said, “People dress in bright colors in Hawaii, more than in the Midwest, which explains why I use bright colors in my art.”
In recent years, Bucholz credits the rebirth of her creative interests to the art therapy she sought from the DuPage Art League after the death of her 19-year-old son. Bucholz said, “Sadness is what you make of it and I made it bloom into something wonderful. Out of this, I have found a gift from my son. Art has been very healing.”
Sharing her love of art has continued the healing process and created a connection with people during the recent economic downturn. One way is by offering her services at the Addison Art Guild Gallery, teaching free drop-in art lessons to children on Saturdays.
Another connection is through commissioned portraits of children. She began by painting portraits of her son as a way of remembering and connecting with him. She was later approached by a woman who commissioned a portrait of her daughter, believing that if Bucholz could paint beautiful animals, she could also paint a portrait of her daughter. The woman later commissioned a second painting after the birth of her son and Bucholz has since developed regular customers that attend her exhibits in the area.
As a way of continuing her art education, Bucholz enjoys vacations that include traveling to attend workshops with art masters in a variety of locations. Last year she traveled to Costa Rica to visit Jan Hart, one of her favorite watercolor artists, and will visit the same artist again this year in San Jose, California.
Another workshop offered the opportunity to learn abstract painting with artist Sterling Edwards, where she learned that her background in design and art was critical in understanding the process of developing an abstract painting. Even though an abstract may look like child's play, with paint simply thrown on the canvas, it is not. Bucholz said, “It's knowing the elements of good design, composition and technique and putting it together in an attractive manner that makes a good abstract.”
Bucholz enjoys her membership in Gallery 200 and the DuPage Art League as she considers her interaction with fellow artists as a way to expand, develop and grow in her own art. She plans to soon include lessons in oil pastels to accompany her current works in acrylics, oils and watercolors. Bucholz said, “When you grow in your artwork, you grow in your life. When I'm happiest in my artwork, I'm happiest in my life, too.”
Flowers, animals and children, with some landscapes included, will be the focus of her exhibit on display at Gallery 200 throughout April. A free opening reception from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, April 1 at the gallery will include light refreshments and an opportunity to meet the artist.
Gallery 200 is a cultural initiative supported by the City of West Chicago and the West Chicago Cultural Arts Commission, and is one more reason West Chicago was named an Illinois Arts Friendly Community in 2007. Gallery 200 is open Thursday and Friday from noon to 8 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. For more information, including a complete list of current art classes, call (630) 293-9550 or visit www.gallery200.org.