Geri Owen

ARTIST STATEMENT/BIO

Geri Owen-The Story Behind the Art

"Standing in line at the local grocery store I noticed an invitation to take beginning art classes sponsored by the West Liberty Area Arts Council. Something inside me said “give it a try.” Growing up in rural Illinois we didn’t have formal art classes. It was up to our classroom teachers if they wanted to have us try any art projects. I do remember finger painting in First Grade. And I did take an Art class in college, but I don’t remember too much about it.

So why did this invitation intrigue me? Little did I know that I was about to embark on an “art adventure.” In 2009 I found myself, along with more than 10 other community members, around the tables at our local community center with newsprint and No. 8B pencil in hand. It was a hard struggle for me to draw the assignments, but I kept showing up. As time went on, I felt an inner struggle to not follow directions and just do my own thing. The kid in me kept yelling “I don’t want to draw a basket of oranges!” On occasion I would leave the table and find a quiet place to just doodle. It brought such peace and joy. Eventually I started incorporating my “doodling” into my art. People would comment that what I was doing made them think of the work of other established artists.

Eventually I discovered the art form of Zentangle. “Zen” representing meditation and “tangle” representing the movement of the lines. I eventually found a class on this art form, and I loved it! It didn’t make me cry. When I begin a new piece, I never have the final piece in mind, I just start to draw and see where my pencils take me. Each new creation amazes me. WOW.

Zentangle may not be for you, but I would encourage you to give art a try. There are so many different options: painting, drawing, ceramics, metal works, glass blowing, etc. It just might amaze you!"

Geri Owen lives in West Liberty, IA with her husband Bob and their dog Gizmo. They have two sons, Michael, who teaches Special Ed at the high school level, and Matthew, who lives north of Omaha, NE with his wife Hannah and their two daughters Lainey and Vivy.

GALLERY HISTORY