Writer's Notes: Charlene Eckman welcomed me into her home which is a beautiful mix of modern and antiques (with a backyard view to the tallest of the Coburg Hills). When Charlene and her husband, Jim, moved to Springfield, they decided it was time for a modern, single story home after years of living (and painstakingly restoring) a Victorian-style home in Yreka, California.
I noticed a painting above the fireplace mantle that reminded me of the inside of the barn of my mother's parents Minnesota farm -- a place I visited often when I was a child. Charlene grew up on an Illinois farm and lived in Woodstock, a town not far from Geneva (30 miles west of Chicago) where I had lived in the late '70s and early 80's. So we had Midwestern connection, including the fact the she had gone to college in the Illinois town where I had worked -- Wheaton. Small world!Many of Charlene's oil paintings decorate the walls of her home and her studio has several paintings on the walls.
Weather permitting, she does most of her paintings outside on the back patio from sketches done on location or photos taken during traveling. I especially enjoyed seeing her old paint box which she bought over 45 years ago when she was a freshman in college.
Charlene is an art educator at heart. After spending her whole career teaching art in schools, she now is at the forefront of encouraging and supporting art education for children and youth in our community. She leads the TEACHArts children's outreach and family art programs as a Board member of Emerald Art Center. She also teaches free monthly art classes for children at the Springfield Library and focuses on youth art programs in her role as vice-president of the Springfield Arts Commission.
With the leadership Charlene Eckman has provided for art education initiatives since she moved to Springfield two years ago, I'm looking forward to seeing even more children, youth, and families at the Emerald Art Center. And to seeing "what's coming next" from Charlene's devoted service in support of the arts and arts education in our community.More photos of Charlene's oil paintings follow the newspaper story.
Featured in the Springfield Beacon (July 11, 2007)
50 Artists: 50 Years of Art in Springfield
Celebrating arts and culture in our community
By Todd Peterson
For The Beacon
Charlene EckmanExploring nature's designs with an impressionistic style
Since falling in love with art education over 40 years ago, Charlene Eckman has been teaching art and creating oil paintings that focus on designs found in nature.
In her paintings, Charlene explores the patterns and rhythms of lines, textures, and colors of her subjects. She often paints trees, rocks, and rivers of wilderness settings or barns, corn, and wheat fields of rural settings like those of her childhood growing up on an Illinois farm.
Charlene's paintings begin with catching the energy of the design using thin oil washes. Then she works with thicker oils to build forms, textures, and values while keeping colors and lines bold -- building her enthusiasm as she paints.
Charlene uses short, impressionistic strokes with her brush and palette knife in many of her paintings. In others, bold shapes and lines are made with her larger brushes.
Serving as an art teacher since the late 1960's, Charlene taught at elementary, high school, and college levels in California before retiring and moving to Springfield in 2005. Always an active volunteer while teaching in Yreka, Charlene soon became involved in creating children's outreach programs at the Emerald Art Center and serves as a member of the Board. She was appointed to the Springfield Arts Commission in 2005 where her focus is supporting opportunities in the arts for youth.
Nature continues to inspire the paintings of Charlene Eckman and her volunteer work keeps the joy of children creating art very much alive in her life. In her own words:
Inspiration To Begin: "When I was a child, I sewed with my grandmother and did embroidery work when I was very young. I didn't take an art class until I was a senior in high school. Even though I started as a biology major in college, I soon fell in love with art education and decided to follow my natural tendency and teach art."
Important Mentors: "In college, Karl Steele taught me to use a limited palette. He had us start and finish a painting in three hours! I recall going to the Chicago Art Institute and seeing paintings by Monet, Van Gogh, and Edward Hopper which inspired me. Later in life, I visited Santa Fe and saw Georgia O'Keeffe's work and the place where she painted near 'Ghost Ranch'. And within the last few years, the Canadian artist, Emily Carr and the 'Group of Seven' led by Lawren Harris have been new sources for learning and inspiration."
Value of Art in Life: "I learned to really see by creating art . . . to reflect the beauty I see in nature. And, as an art educator, it has been a joy to teach and I've learned so much from children who often asked me 'what if' questions. Energy comes to teachers from their students! For people who come to the Emerald Art Center, the availability of classes for all levels can make a difference in their lives, plus there's such a wide range of art to see inside the beautifully restored historical building."
Her Artist's Legacy: "It would be nice if some of my paintings are being enjoyed by people after I'm gone. My legacy as an artist includes my two sons who are involved in art education and creating beautiful spaces. I've collaborated on projects with Nate, who is an art teacher at Roseburg High School, and enjoyed seeing the outcomes of John's work as a facilities director at Portland State.
For more information Charlene Eckman and to see additional images of her art, visit the blog: www.emeraldartcenter.blogspot.com and the art center's website: www.emeraldartcenter.org.
"Hillside Trees in Italy" by Charlene Eckman_____________________________________________________________________
About The Artist
Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois
Arts Education: Wheaton College (Illinois) B.A. Art & Post-Graduate Classes in Art & Education at UCLA, Pepperdine, San Jose College, UC-Berkeley, Chico State, and Southern Oregon University.
Media of Choice: Oil Painting
Favorite Place to Do Art: Outside on her patio at home
Favorite Subjects To Paint: Landscapes in rural or wilderness settings; flowers
Arts Organizations: Emerald Empire Arts Association, Springfield Arts Commission
Currently Showing: "Mountain Barn" at the Emerald Art Center
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All art images and photos of the art are copyright of the artist.
"Mountain Barn" by Charlene Eckman
"Cobra Plant" by Charlene Eckman
"Begonia" by Charlene Eckman
