Friday, March 16, 2007

About the artist; Jean Bourque

JEAN BOURQUE ARTIST, writer, web designer, art marketing coach, small business consultant, speaker, teacher, photographer, video artist, philanthropist, and so much more.
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Jean Bourque has been an artist at Ward Nasse Gallery on Prince St. NYC since the late 90's.
She also had shown her work at two other NYC galleries in the mid 90's. Her artwork traveled to R Trade Gallery in the Netherlands establishing her first international market before the turn of the century. She has received offers for shows from all over the world including Southern France, Brazil; St. Croix; Nigeria and Germany. Jean's prior career as a framed art rep where she had sold art throughout SC and parts of GA, set the stage for her own art marketing career.

She studied impressionistic oil painting for many years with Ilona Royce Smithken; the star of Painting with Ilona; pastels with Jason Chang of NYC, oil painting with the late Conrad Talbot of Boston, MA and collage with Gerald Brommer a national collage artist and many others. She worked with Guy Lipscomb on a daily basis in his studio and honed the craft of unique creations and marketing artwork. Jean is a forever student of the universe taking courses as far flung as Feng Shui, Faux Finishing, and Macromedia Fireworks as well as having earned a degree in Business Management with a minor in Marketing. (earning a 4.0 in her major and minor!)

Bourque has taught art lessons to people from 2 years old to senior citizens. Students love it when she tells them throw out all the negatives; yes you can create. Follow your heart, be true to your soul; because only there can you truly find the artist within! With her positive attitude and gentle encouragement her students find a new way to express themselves.

She also teaches a workshop called Marketing for Artists at galleries and for art groups.

Workshop: "Marketing for Artists" taught by Jean Bourque

Learn how to get your art into galleries and juried shows, how to promote your work and yourself as an artist; how to work the internet to your advantage; how to market your website, and so much more. Get your art out into the global marketplace; send Jean an email if you are interested or have a group that would like her to be a featured speaker.

She has completed several public art projects for The Cultural Council of Richland and Lexington County. Her "Op Art" Tree; a ten foot steel palmetto tree which stood across the street from the front of the SC State Capital during the "flag" debate; received national tv attention. She donated hand painted furniture to help the homeless after 9-11; and has been an art donor to National Alliance of Breast Cancer Organizations; Salvation Army, Sexual Trauma Services, the SC Heart Association, Artist Against Aids, and The Wild Woman's Tea Party in addition to many other charities. She was also involved with the Door Project; making a work of art from an old door to raise money for the Cultural Council.

Her door was the "Mondrian Door" a tribute to the famous artist; well known for his use of primary colors in geometric patterns. This door sponsored by Mike Kelly stood at Kelly and Suggs Law Firm on Huger St in Columbia; until it was purchased at auction by John Delgado, also a lawyer in Columbia, SC. For three years it was at the entrance way of John's law firm on Richland St. next to the Chamber of Commerce. For the Garage Art Auction Bourque created works of art from old car parts and to her surprise; 7 out of 8 of her Assemblage artworks; were auctioned quickly and raised money for charity.

Jean Bourque is a member of and former President of the Seven Oaks Art League. Prior to that she had been the art director at the WWTP silent auction and librarian at Crooked Creek Art League in Chapin, SC. She is also a member of Americans for the Arts, the Artists Round Table, The Cultural Council and SC Women in Business.
This Blog created by Jean Bourque March 2007

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