Artwork

CARLA'S WEDDING GIFT
Oil and acrylic paint on canvas
36X48
NFS



VIVO AQUI!
Acrylic, mixed media, on canvas.
20X30
$800


FEMALE GESTURE
Charcoal on newsprint
18X24 NFS



MALE CHEST
Charcoal, pastel, and pencil on paper
18X24 NFS



FLYING PEOPLE
Charcoal on paper
36X48
SOLD


LAYING DOWN
Marble and shellac
15X6X5 NFS


WOMAN LOOKING DOWN
Marble
4X3X21
SOLD


SELF FACING SELF
Plaster
36X24X32
$5,000


DIRTY SHEETS
Plaster, acrylic, coffee, sheets
50X38X32 NFS


REVEALING
Cement, acrylic, oil, and fabric on canvas
34X55X4
SOLD


BREAKTHROUGH
Cement, acrylic, oil on canvas
12X20X4
*Award winning poetry and score written in response to Breakthrough.
$600



QUARRY DREAM
Cement, acrylic, and oil on canvas
22X40X4
$350


BACK
Cement, acrylic, oil on canvas - Part 2 of diptych with FRONT
24X36
SOLD


FRONT
Cement, acrylic, oil on canvas - Part 1 of diptych with BACK
24X36
SOLD


LA MIRAPOSA
Cement, acrylic, oil, and fabric on canvas
60X40X6
SOLD


POMPEI
Plaster, acrylic, oil, shellac
24X36X20 NFS


TEXTURE 2
Acrylic, oil and thread on canvas
32X48
SOLD



TEXTURE 1
Cement, acrylic, oil on canvas
36X48
$550 (FRAMED)



DIVIDED CONTINUUM
Diptych-cement, acrylic, oil on canvas
30X61
SOLD


DO YOU THINK?
Diptych - cement, acrylic, oil on board
15X22 NFS


CUERVA DE ESPANA
Cement, acrylic, oil on canvas
24x36
$350


STREAM OF CONTINUUM
Floor Piece -- cement, acrylic, oil on board
24X12' NFS

Self Portrait Paintings and Drawings

I love to do self-portraits. I've probably done over 100 in my life, so there are many more where these came from. They are not always successful, but for me, that isn't always the point. Most of the time, I scrap them before they ever reach completion.

Oil on canvas
24X40 NFS


Charcoal and conte crayon on paper
18X24 NFS



Charcoal on paper
24X30 NFS

Artist Statement

I introduce non-traditional materials into traditional painting and sculpting techniques with a strong emphasis on surface treatment and investigation of scale. My paintings become sculptures through the use of mixed media (e.g., cement, dirt, plaster, mica, perlite, and other natural materials), creating a highly textural surface for typically larger scale works. I have devised a process where I embed wet cement into the fibers of canvas creating an archival solid, concrete, surface for sculpting. I introduce acrylic based chemicals into my cement mixtures to bond each layer of cement to the under layers. My pieces reference bas relief sculpture but they are created by additive processes rather than subtractive.

My intent is to engage the viewer in both a two-dimensional and three-dimensional visceral experience with a teasing desire to touch. I incorporate figurative elements into my surfaces to reveal a layer of human psychology and ignite deeper facets of imagination and interpretation. While referencing the microcosm and macrocosm of the earth and its properties, both physical and metaphysical, I create images to stimulate intrigue and wonder in the history of the earth and humanity.

I reference the aesthetic beauty of mountains, the insides of caves, the cracks in the sidewalk, peeling paint, naturally occurring layers of color and other textural surfaces for my abstract paintings. I love to use "deliberate chance" in creating interesting effects with acrylic paint and create fascinating effects using alternative methods of paint application.

Images of cast figures from Pompeii, Bog People found in North Western Europe,
and mummies preserved in the mountains of Chile and Siberia resonate in my mind. The daily conventions, sacramental rituals, and ceremonies of these people fascinate me. When I study the images of perfectly preserved mummies, unexplainable and extraordinary personal connections immediately form in my imagination. Captivated and seduced by the aesthetic beauty of their images frozen in time, I create painterly and sculptural images to bring reverence to their lives.

Artists that have deeply impacted my work include Mark Rothko, Magdelena Abakonowicz, Kiki Smith, Antony Gormley, Camille Claudel, Ursula Von Rydingsvard, Kathe Kollwitz, and Anselm Keifer.

Education

College for Creative Studies Sep 1997 - May 2003 Detroit, MI, United States
Bachelor of Fine Arts, Painting and Sculpture
*Honors

Schoolcraft College January 2009 - present Livonia, MI, United States
Computer Graphics Technology
4.0 GPA

Oakland Community College Jan 2001 - May 2006 Royal Oak, MI, United States
Liberal Arts Studies with concentration in Photography and Graphic Design
3.9 GPA

Community Education of Royal Oak Sep 2005 - Jan 2006 Royal Oak, MI, United States *Business of Writing
*Design for Illustrators
*Conversational Spanish

Work History

Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center Birmingham, MI, United States Sep 2008 - Present

Painting and Sculpture Instructor Instruct students in the art of mixed media painting and sculpture. Students experiment with a variety of paint application and sculpture techniques. Alternative medias encouraged. Contemporary and Modern artists are introduced and studied. Intensive courses involving conceptual ideas and advanced methods and techniques of painting and sculpture. Design and implement art lesson plans, assignments, and instructional materials for advanced learning. Maintain order and discipline in the classroom conducive to effective learning and take all necessary safety precautions to protect students, equipment, materials and facilities.

Novi and West Bloomfield Community Education Novi and West Bloomfield, MI, United States Dec 2007 - Present

Art Teacher Teach adult students the art of abstract painting. Students experiment with a variety of paint application techniques utilizing different tools to manipulate acrylic paint on canvas. Alternative medias encouraged. Contemporary and Modern artists are introduced and studied. Color theory presented. Students learn how to create an interesting composition using color, line, form, and various textures.Design and implement art lesson plans, assignments, and instructional materials for advanced learning. Maintain order and discipline in the classroom conducive to effective learning and take all necessary safety precautions to protect students, equipment, materials and facilities.

Park West Gallery Southfield, MI, United States Nov 2006 - Present

Restoration and Conservation Artist Employ numerous professional cleaning, retouching and repair techniques to works on paper and canvas by world-famous artists such as Picasso, Chagall, Dali, Miro, Lautrec, and Rembrandt, et al; assist with gallery curation, art handling and installation, framing, packaging, shipping/receiving and inventory.

Li'l Martians Playcare Southfield, MI, United States Jan 2005 - Nov 2006

Preschool Teacher Supervised the creative and intellectual development of children ages 1 to 6; prepared lesson plans and educational materials. Designed, compiled, typed, edited and printed activities workbook for employee childcare center.

T.G.I. Friday's and California Pizza Kitchen Troy, MI, United States May 2002 - Nov 2006

Server Multi-task duties in high-energy, efficient, and demanding restaurant environments. Observed hospitality industry standards of conduct, etiquette and service focused on customer satisfaction; emphasis on teamwork; bartender training and service.

Tangent Gallery Detroit, MI, United States Sep 2002 - Jun 2003

Director's Assistant Completed administrative tasks as needed including mailing lists, data entry, and accounting ledgers. National and international biographical research on artists including public relations for Tangent Gallery exhibitions; designed and produced promotional post cards for exhibiting artists. Reviewed artist slides, organized exhibition dates, and assisted with gallery installations; prepared for openings and assisted with sales.

College for Creative Studies Detroit, MI, United States Sep 2002 - Jun 2003

Chair Assistant, Fine Arts Department Performed administrative tasks as assigned including typing letters, data entry, photocopying, writing and sending faxes and emails, answered telephones. Kept track of Chairman’s appointments and ran errands. Assisted art students with photographic slide documentation, film, digital photography, graphic design and business card design; canvas stretching and priming.

Temps Total Graphics Livonia, MI, United States Jun 2000 - Jun 2001

Graphic Artist Assistant Utilized digital photography, photographic retouching and computer input and output skills for t-shirts, banners, brochures, signs and promotional merchandise. Fulfilled clerical tasks as needed including data entry, bookkeeping and receptionist duties.

Exhibitions

2007. Park West Gallery, Employee Exhibition, Southfield, MI

2006. Park West Gallery, Employee Exhibition, Southfield, MI

2006. WestNorth Gallery, “Gender F,” Baltimore, MD

2003. College for Creative Studies Spring Show, Solo Exhibition, Detroit, MI

2003. U245 Gallery, “extricate subliminate,” in collaboration with Ann Gordon, Detroit, MI

2003. Wayne County Council for the Arts, “2003 Artists Among Us,” Detroit, MI
*Travelling Exhibition

2003. Crate Gallery, “The Drawing Show,” Detroit, MI

Interests

Painting, sculpture, graphic design, drawing, photography, movies, music, health, cooking, music, animals, dancing, running, working out, biking, reading and traveling.

Other stuff:

I cook a lot!!!
http://www.shylahsrecipes.blogspot.com/


Graphic Design Portfolio:
http://shylahpetkus.carbonmade.com/


Flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/shylahpetkus/sets/