Theresa JK Drinka

Art Mediums

• Acrylic
• Jewelry
• Metals
• Watercolor

Biography

Twenty-five years ago, I felt a strong pull toward the visual arts as a way to balance my career as a Social Worker, Program Developer, Team Trainer, and Author. Multiple painting and metals workshops with internationally known artists over many years helped me hone my skills and identify my artistic style as expressionistic. I chose watercolor as my primary painting medium because I found it less toxic than other mediums and infinitely challenging. My paintings portray nature, people, and my existential relationship with them. As I developed my process I realized that painting allowed me to express myself in ways that language was unable to accomplish. Having gained proficiency at painting nature and people interacting with their environment, I discovered that abstracting my knowledge of human behavior and my feelings toward the world at large allowed me even more freedom to advance my painting skills and infuse difficult emotions into non-objective art. My abstracts capitalize on my intuitive reactions to life experiences by using color, shape, and value to convey emotion and meaning. When I lack the ideas or energy to paint, designing and making jewelry spark my creative muse. I sometimes use metal clays because they are easy on my joints, but I also fabricate jewelry from metal sheet. My goal is to design jewelry that is both beautiful and comfortable. Although I use many of the skills I learned in painting to design my jewelry, I find designing jewelry from metals, glass, resin, and natural stones is more tactile and relaxing and prepares me to return to painting. I continue to learn by working with fellow artists and by mentoring beginning artists. I have won multiple awards for my paintings and was a co-founder of The Hidden Studios Art Tour: Art Along the Ice Age Trail. It is personally satisfying to know that my art has found places of honor in institutions and in art patrons’ homes throughout the country.