Artist's work on display at Storm Lake hospital
By Mark C. Johnson, Journal correspondent | Posted: Monday, July 14, 2008
Barbara McGee is shown with one of her pieces of art that is on display at the Buena Vista Regional Medical Center in Storm Lake. (Photo by Mark Johnson)
STORM LAKE, Iowa -- Barbara McGee has drawn artistic inspiration from growing up on a farm west of Storm Lake. Her love of horses has influenced her work and so has her mother's love of flowers.
Twelve of the Peterson, Iowa-based artist's paintings are now on display at the Buena Vista Regional Medical Center. The exhibit runs through Aug. 31.
"By the age of 13, I knew I wanted to be an artist," McGee recalled. "My main concentration has been watercolors, but I also work in oil and pastels."
Horses have always been her main focus, but now she includes cowboys, rodeo scenes, portraits, landscapes and florals.
McGee has pursued art as a full-time career since she was graduated from Buena Vista University with a bachelor of arts degree in art in 1981.
"Painting gives me an avenue to explore the romance and emotion that surround and embody the West," she said. Her paintings have been accepted in many regional competitions in both the United States and Canada.
She entered her first juried competitions in 1990 and realized a longtime dream of becoming a member of Women Artists of the West. In 1991, she won the Grumbacher Silver Medal Award and Visitor's Choice Award from the Iowa Watercolor Society. Since then, she has won awards in 18 competitions and shows. This year, she was accepted in the Western Spirit Show in Cheyenne, Wyo., for the 17th straight year.
In 2000, McGee opened her own gallery and studio in Peterson. This not only gives her a place to showcase her work, but also gives about 20 other artists a place to show their work.
McGee also will participate in the Artisans Road Trip Oct. 4 and 5 when Northwest Iowa artists open their studios for the public on a self-guided tour. She also did an artwork for the Corridor Art Trail in which artists in Buena Vista, Clay, Dickinson and Emmet counties transformed wooden Adirondack chairs into works of art. The chairs are on display at several locations until Sept. 28. Visit www.lakescorridor.com for more information.
Twelve of the Peterson, Iowa-based artist's paintings are now on display at the Buena Vista Regional Medical Center. The exhibit runs through Aug. 31.
"By the age of 13, I knew I wanted to be an artist," McGee recalled. "My main concentration has been watercolors, but I also work in oil and pastels."
Horses have always been her main focus, but now she includes cowboys, rodeo scenes, portraits, landscapes and florals.
McGee has pursued art as a full-time career since she was graduated from Buena Vista University with a bachelor of arts degree in art in 1981.
"Painting gives me an avenue to explore the romance and emotion that surround and embody the West," she said. Her paintings have been accepted in many regional competitions in both the United States and Canada.
She entered her first juried competitions in 1990 and realized a longtime dream of becoming a member of Women Artists of the West. In 1991, she won the Grumbacher Silver Medal Award and Visitor's Choice Award from the Iowa Watercolor Society. Since then, she has won awards in 18 competitions and shows. This year, she was accepted in the Western Spirit Show in Cheyenne, Wyo., for the 17th straight year.
In 2000, McGee opened her own gallery and studio in Peterson. This not only gives her a place to showcase her work, but also gives about 20 other artists a place to show their work.
McGee also will participate in the Artisans Road Trip Oct. 4 and 5 when Northwest Iowa artists open their studios for the public on a self-guided tour. She also did an artwork for the Corridor Art Trail in which artists in Buena Vista, Clay, Dickinson and Emmet counties transformed wooden Adirondack chairs into works of art. The chairs are on display at several locations until Sept. 28. Visit www.lakescorridor.com for more information.
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