| THE ARTISAN ARTICLE ~ a Creative Community ~ |
| Maureen Oliveto Painter, jewelry artist and inventor of Easy Knotter It's 5 a.m. and her household sleeps. Softly she tip-toes through the rooms that will lead her to her creative space. Whispering past those distractions that beckon her attention; foreign to her soul. She finds her way and with a sigh she lights the fragrant candle and presses "PLAY", releasing the soothing melody to embrace her moment. Before she begins, she gazes momentarily at the window and traces the patterns of drops cascading the windowpane. The welcome rain blurs the world outside and inspires the spirited artist within. As she breathes in the atmosphere that has granted her complete submission, she sinks her brush into the paint... |
| Featured Artist |
| I first met Maureen Oliveto during a local Autumn arts and crafts show in Cornwall, New York. I remember, while admiring her wares, that I paid her a compliment on the delicate roses she so gracefully painted on various decorative wood pieces she had displayed. There were whimsical shelf sitters, wood boxes and signs with cute sayings. Turning one particular piece over in my hands, I looked at the underside. It was signed "Reenie". I placed my order and a new found friendship began. That was ten years ago, and I still treasure my purchase from "Reenie". Maureen tells me her earliest inspiration came from her mother. Growing up as the youngest among six other siblings in Paterson, New Jersey, she would tenderly watch her mother submit to her artistic cravings during family trips. "My mom used to paint on all her trips...(she) painted a beautiful picture of Maine's rocky coastline that I now have hanging in my home. She was a wonderful artist." Along with her inherited talent, Maureen also admires the art of the American artist, Edward Hopper, who is most famous for his 1942 painting, "Night Hawks". Maureen states, "I like his style." She is, for the most part, entirely self-taught and she has known this creative spark all of her life. She enjoys the process of making something out of nothing, and her talents would soon be noticed by family and friends. "I had gone to a wedding shower", Maureen explains, "and made a stained glass fan lamp. Everyone there loved it and said I should sell them." The seed of possibilities was planted and she continued to explore and define her talents. Maureen works mainly in acrylics, but would welcome further study expressing her art in oils and watercolor. She also creates in other mediums such as polymer clay and jewelry making. Balancing her arts delight and keeping her current family in check is a constant challenge. While her children were small, Maureen created on opportune impulse and within peripheral distance of them playing. That meant being flexible and portable! However, now that her children are almost grown, Maureen is working toward establishing an ideal working space and haven to release all of her creative plans. "My ideal work area would be a room to call my own with everything in its place." An without further delay, Maureen is presently preparing this personal studio and work space to pursue her latest endeavor. For quite some time, it has been her desire to create an irresistible signature catalog of her fine hand painted glassware collection made available to everyone at the turn of a page. When asked for "words of advice" for anyone else that may be pursuing their creative goals, she says, "Enjoy what you do, it it gets too much, put it aside and go back to it when you are ready." Visit her website Designs by Reenie |
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