Colleen Parker was born in Springville, Utah in 1927. She is a painter in oil and acrylics, a printmaker, and a pastellist. Perhaps her most well known work is pastel over monotype, a unique approach she has developed. She lives in Bountiful, Utah.

Colleen Parker began her art education while growing up in Springville, the “Art City” of Utah, where she was exposed to some of the finest contemporary American art which became a part of the annual art exhibition at the Springville Museum of Art. Formal training was at Brigham Young University, Iowa State University, and the Chicago Art Institute.

Parker's work has been widely exhibited locally ad across the country, garnering awards in juried regional, national and international exhibitions. Much of her work has become a part of private and corporate collections in this country as well as England and South America. She is represented in the permanent collections of Brigham Young University and the Springville Museum of Art.

Biography adapted from Artists of Utah and material supplied by the artist.

As an artist, Colleen Parker describes herself as a “perpetual explorer”. Not only is she interested in exploring the designs and patterns in nature, but also in pushing her artistic experiments to the limit, always seeking new forms of expression. Her working in a variety of media, often with an unusual approach, brings excitement and spontaneity to her art. Parker works in both miniature and large formats, incorporating drawing, printmaking, collage and painting, either singly or in various combinations. Perhaps her most well known work is pastel over monotype, a unique approach she has developed which combines abstract and representational art. She was featured in the July, 1988 issue of The Artist's Magazine where this technique was discussed.

Colleen Parker began her art education while growing up in Springville, the “Art City” of Utah, where she was exposed to some of the finest contemporary American art which became a part of the annual art exhibition at the Springville Museum of Art. Formal training was at Brigham Young University, Iowa State University, Chicago Art Institute and various workshops with such artists as Albert Handel and Daniel Greene, noted pastelists. Working independently with various experimental techniques, however, has been the major contributor to her development as an artist.

Parker's work has been widely exhibited locally ad across the country, garnering awards in juried regional, national and international exhibitions. Much of her work has become a part of private and corporate collections in this country as well as England and South America. She is represented in the permanent collections of Brigham Young University and the Springville Museum of Art.

In 1991 the artist was elected a Signature Member of Miniature Artists of America. This election was in response to the high quality of the artist's work as well as the recognition it has received over a period of years in the international shows sponsored by this country's major miniature art societies.

For the past several years, Colleen Parker has been working from her studio at 163 South Main Street, Bountiful, Utah. In 2001, space became available in this same Historic Main Street building and, after contacting several other artists, it was decided that an Artists' Cooperative Gallery be created on the site. The Lamplight Art Gallery is currently in its fourth year of operation (as of 2005), with 12 local artists participating. Five other artists have occupied additional studios in the building and various art classes are being taught on a regular basis. The Lamplight Art Gallery is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm.

Colleen Parker

ARTIST'S STATEMENT

“Growth as an artist is a continual process. Everything I have encountered up to this point in my life has had a definite influence upon who I am as an artist. All that I presently experience in my day to day work on location or in my studio, becomes a part of this constant process of learning and growing.

When not working with a brush or pencil or pastel in my hand, I am observing my surroundings. While walking or driving through the countryside I am often composing, designing, taking mental notes and storing them for future reference. Much of my work is done as I draw from this information and render scenes I have remembered and felt.

Exploration of new dimensions has increased my range or expression as an artist and has kept me in a constant pattern of growing, searching, learning and enjoying! A great part of this enjoyment also comes from sharing with others, both children and adults, the excitement of exploration and learning to draw on the creativity which is in each one of us. Regularly teaching in the classroom at the Lamplight Art Gallery in Bountiful and occasionally presenting workshops at the Bountiful Davis Art Center and to various art groups throughout the area, I am experiencing an increase in my own growth and development as an artist as I continue to discover new and exciting ways to express myself through my art.“

AWARDS

Miniature Art Society of Florida International Exhibition

• 2005 1st Abstraction and Surrealism
• 2004 1st Abstraction and Surrealism
• 1997 3rd Drawing and Pastel
• 1996 Judge's Choice
• 1990 2nd Drawing and Pastel
• 1989 1st Landscape
• 1988 1st Drawing and Pastel

The Miniature Painters, Sculptors, & Engravers Society of Washington, D.C. International Exhibition

• 2004 2nd Drawing and Pastel
• 2004 3rd Collage/Mixed Media
• 2003 1st Drawing and Pastel
• 2001 1st Drawing and Pastel
• 1998 2nd Drawing and Pastel
• 1997 3rd Drawing and Pastel
• 1994 1st Drawing and Pastel
• 1990 2nd Drawing and Pastel

Colored Pencil Artists of Utah

• 1994 Honorable Mention
• 1993 Judge's Choice

Postage Stamp Size Miniature

• 1991 Purchase Award
• 1987 Best of Show

Montana Miniature Art Society

• 1992 1st Drawing
• 1988 Best in Landscape

Georgia Miniature Art Society International Exhibition

• 1994 1st Landscape
• 1991 2nd Pastel
• 1990 2nd Pastel

National Miniature Society, La Lux, New Mexico

• 1990 1st Pastel

Miniature Art Society of New Jersey

• 1992 1st Pastel
• 1990 3rd Pastel

Utah Women Artists

• 1989 Honorable Mention

St. George Art Festival

• 1986 2nd in Oils

Contact this artist: Lamplight Art Gallery dcparker@xmission.com

Biography courtesy of artist.

Newspaper Articles

"Arts Brief." The Salt Lake Tribune, February 7, 1999.

"Art Show." Davis County Clipper, September 4, 1970.

"Art Canvass." The Deseret News, January 29, 1989.

"Art Canvass." The Deseret News, July 22, 1990.

"Art Canvass." The Deseret News, January 26, 1992.

"Art Canvass." The Deseret News, January 26, 1992.

"Art Canvass." The Deseret News, June 20, 1993.

"Art Canvass." The Deseret News, November 7, 1993.

"Art Groups Provide Belonging, Learning and Exposure Society Promote The Best, Create a Bond Among Artists." The Deseret News, September 16, 1990.

"Artist Invents Techniques as she Works." Davis County Clipper, April 17, 2003.

"Artist Open Studio Tour Weekend." The Deseret News, September 22, 1996.

"Colleen Lewis Parker to Exhibit Art at Peteetneet." Payson Chronicle, November 20, 1996.

"Coming Up: Visual Arts." The Salt Lake Tribune, February 8, 1998.

"Coming Up: Visual Arts." The Salt Lake Tribune, April 28, 2002.

"Colored Pencil Art." The Deseret News, September 27, 1992.

"Exhibit In Utah Galleries Show Art Can Be 'A Family Affair'." The Deseret News, November 27, 1988.

"Former Springville High Student Takes Eastern Exhibit Art Prize." The Springville Herald, April 14, 1960.

"Galleries." The Deseret News, December 27, 1992.

"Galleries." The Deseret News, April 2, 1995.

"Galleries." The Deseret News, May 19, 1996.

"In Some Cases, Miniature is not a Bad Thing." City Weekly, June 26, 2003.

"Lamplight Gives Big Stage to Miniature Art." Ogden Stardard Examiner, June 27, 2003.

"Making a Big Deal of Miniatures." Davis County Clipper, January 18, 2005.

"'Mini' Art Comes to Bountiful in a Big Way." Davis County Clipper, October 2, 1990.

"Miniature Art - Two Utah Artists Make a Big Hit by Thinking Small." The Deseret News, August 12, 1987.

"Paperwork Show At Art Center Prove Ripping Good Exhibits." The Deseret News, August 4, 1991.

"Parker is Featured August Artist." Davis County Clipper, July 29, 2004.

"Parker: Her Own Style Interprets Nature." The Dugway Sampler, November 14, 1985.

"Quiting For Christmas." The Deseret News, December 19, 1993.

"Street Fest Summer Fest." Davis County Clipper, August 12, 2004.

"Showing at Local Galleries." The Deseret News, April 25, 2004.

"Showing at Local Galleries." The Deseret News, March 21, 2004.

"Showing at Local Galleries." The Deseret News, May 26, 2002.

"Showing at Local Galleries." The Deseret News, October 13, 2002.

"Showing at Local Galleries." The Deseret News, February 9, 2003.

"Showing at Local Galleries." The Deseret News, June 29, 2003.

"Student Artists Show Their Colors At An Early Age." The Deseret News, February 20, 1994.

"Utah Marquee: Visual Art." The Salt Lake Tribune, April 30, 1999.

"Utah Marquee: Visual Art." The Salt Lake Tribune, December 21, 2001.

"Utah State Fair Winners." The Deseret News, October 19, 2002.

"What if I Could Fly." City Weekly, August 12, 2004.

Book

Olpin, Robert S., William C. Seifrit, and Vern G. Swanson. Artists of Utah. Salt Lake City, UT: Gibbs Smith Publisher, 1999.