Tracy Lynn Pristas
Artist Statement
My abstract landscape paintings are soaked in contemplative emotions and an intense dreamlike reverence for the natural world. I derive my visual excitement from nature then depart into abstraction. Rather than re-creating a particular landscape on canvas, I aim to express the essence of nature through surface manipulation techniques, layers of colors to build rich textures and through the painting process itself uncover imagery. I am painting landscape from the inside, this is a nonrepresentational approach to a traditional genre, examining the way that nature enters the work of art subconsciously in response to the sheer act of painting. A celebration of the painting materials for their own sake is a primary factor in the finished piece.
In addition to being a professional artist. I am also a certified yoga instructor and certified Reiki practitioner. Reiki is a Japanese system for channeling universal life force energy to someone or something for the purpose of healing. It was discovered by Dr. Usui in the late 1800's. The influence of these two practices contribute to the tranquility and balance felt in my abstract landscape paintings. An important factor as to why my original oils have been commissioned through art consultants for healthcare.
I am also well known for my lavish surfaces. It was the exceptional, luxurious textures of one of my large scale paintings, Majestic Whisper, that caught the eye of Hollywood set designer, Dan Clancy. After visiting my Chicago studio, he choose several paintings for the Universal Studios blockbuster movie, "The Break -Up" with Jennifer Aniston / Vince Vaughn. This led to an interview on CBS Channel 2 Chicago News and press coverage with Chicago Magazine, and the Pittsburgh Tribune. From 2009 - 2012 my paintings were featured on Lifetime TV hit series, “Drop Dead Diva.” Commissioned large scale oil paintings and mono prints are included in the following prominent healthcare collections, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago, IL, Lutheran General Hospital, Park Ridge, IL Central Dupage Hospital, Winfield, IL and St. John's Mercy Medical Center, St. Louis, MO. I have also created a number of high end residential commissions for art collectors from Florida, Kentucky, and Chicago. Recently I was awarded a one month residency at the prestigious Brush Creek Foundation for the Arts in Wyoming.
According to eastern philosophy the painted landscape is spiritually restorative even when actual visits to nature are impossible. There is a very real sense in which an original abstract landscape paintings can calm and center you, offering those moments of peace and reflection that you so desperately need at the end of a long hectic day. It is my objective to create works of art that will uplift the energy of any interior.
Resume
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS:
2012 Fine Line Design, Door County, WI2012 Space Gallery, Denver, CO
2011 Fine Line Design, Door County, WI
2011 Ravenswood Art Walk, Chicago, IL
2011 Bresler Eitel Fine Art, Milwaukee, WI
2010 Bella Vista Art Gallery, Asheville, NC
2010 Fine Line Design, Door County, WI
2010 Ravenswood Art Walk, Chicago, IL
2009 Bennett Street Gallery, Atlanta, GA
2009 Fine Line Design, Door County, WI
2009 Ravenswood Art Walk, Chicago, IL
2008 Bella Vista Art Gallery, Asheville, NC
2008 Bennett Street Gallery, Atlanta, GA
2008 Fine Line Design, Door County, WI
2007 Artizen Fine Art, Dallas, TX
2007 Lydon Fine Art, Chicago, IL
2007 Bennett Street Gallery, Atlanta, GA
2007 Ravenswood Art Auction, Chicago, IL
2006 Lydon Fine Art, Chicago, IL
2006 Chicago Merchandise Mart, Chicago, IL
2006 The Rice Gallery Of Fine Art, Leawood, KS
2005 Lydon Fine Art, Chicago, IL
2005 Chicago Merchandise Mart, Chicago, IL
2004 Spring Street Gallery, Galena, IL
2004 Chicago Merchandise Mart, Chicago, IL
2003 Chicago Merchandise Mart, Chicago, IL
2003 Chicago Artists Month, Chicago, IL
2002 Wood Street Gallery, Chicago, IL
2002 Chicago Merchandise Mart, Chicago, IL
2002 D- Gallery, Evanston, IL
2001 Chicago Artists Month, Chicago, IL
2001 Peter Jones Gallery, Chicago, IL
2000 Belle Plaine Studios, Chicago, IL
1999 Suburban Fine Arts, Highland Park, IL
1999 Belloc Lowndes Fine Art, Chicago, IL
1999 Expressions Graphic Gallery, Oak Park, IL
MEDIA COVERAGE:
2010 Painting On Lifetime TV “Drop Dead Diva “2009 Painting On Lifetime TV “ Drop Dead Diva”
2008 Atlanta Style & Design
2008 Art Galleries & Artists Of The South
2006 Painting In Universal Studios Blockbuster Movie “The Break - Up”
2006 CBS 2 Evening News Interview
2006 Chicago Magazine
2006 Pittsburgh Tribune
2005 The Artful Home
2005 Chicago Reader
2004 Crain’s Chicago Business
2004 Chicago Learning Guide
2004 Chicago Artist Coalition
2003 Yoga Chicago - Art Review
2003 Lenner Skyline Chicago
2000 Featured Interview MUSE cable access TV.
1998 Chicago Sun Times
1996 Chicago Sun Times Around The Coyote Art Review
GRANTS & AWARDS:
2012 Artist Residency Program, Brush Creek Foundation For The Arts, Saratoga, WY2012 Art Slant Curatorial Team Showcase Winner, International
2010 Art Slant Curatorial Team Showcase Winner, International
2008 Atlanta Symphony’s Decorators Show House Featured Painter.
Atlanta, GA
2003 Community Arts Assistance Grant, Department of Cultural Affairs,
Chicago, IL
2000 Community Arts Assistance Grant, Department of Cultural Affairs,
Chicago, IL
1999 Artist Residency, The Ragdale Foundation, Lake Forest, IL
1999 Community Arts Assistance Grant, Department of Cultural Affairs,
Chicago, IL
1998 Curators Choice Award, Around The Coyote, Chicago, IL
1998 Community Arts Assistance Grant, Department of Cultural Affairs,
Chicago, IL
1996 Community Arts Assistance Grant, Department of Cultural Affairs,
Chicago, IL
COLLECTIONS:
2012 Greater Latrobe Junior High School, Latrobe, PA2010 Northwestern Memorial Medical Faculty Foundation’s Pelvic Center
Chicago, IL
2010 International School, Dusseldorf, Germany
2009 Central Dupage Hospital, Winfield, IL
2009 Lutheran General Hospital, Park Ridge, IL
2008 St. John’s Hospital, St Louis, MO
EDUCATION:
1999 Level 1 & 2 Certification, Usui System Of Natural Healing, Chicago, IL1997 Yoga Instructor Certification, White Lotus Foundation, Santa Barbara,
CA
1987 B. A. Miami University, Oxford, OH
1986 Universidad De Granda, Granda, Spain
GALLERIES & ART CONSULTANTS:
Bella Vista Fine Art, Asheville, NCNine Dot Art Consulting, Denver, CO
MFI Art Company, Inc. New York, NY
HG Art Consultants, Orlando, FL
Fine Line Designs, Door County, WI
Lydon Fine Art Gallery, Chicago, IL
LBD Fine Art, Chicago, IL
C. Smith Fine Art Advisory, Phoenix, AZ
Forse Fine Art, Denver, CO
