Press
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Artist Statement :
The desire to realistically render an animal’s likeness is both universal and ancient.
My artwork is a constant evolution and reflection of my life’s journey to fulfill that desire. Graphite drawings evolved into pen & ink, acrylic, glass etching, & now, Pyrography/wood- burning. The elements of working with/on wood have given the series the source it needed: a symbolic representation of the permanent mark we make on this earth. The use of nature is fundamental to the concept of Skulls & Souls, as both its muse and medium.
Online Solo Gallery
https://www.artshowinternational.com/artists/natalie-woodson
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Education and Affiliations :
The School of Visual Arts
B.F.A. Graphic Design
2007-2011
209 East 23rd St.
New York, NY 10010
The Salmagundi Club
Junior Member
Spring 2020
47 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10003
https://salmagundi.org/natalie-woodson-jra-2020/
Shim Art Network/ Spliced Connector
Junior Member
Fall 2020
_____________________________________________________________________________________ Artist Bio :
Natalie Woodson grew up in the woods of Pelham, North Carolina where she first picked up a pencil and thus began her never-ending desire to leave her unique mark.
The journey started early. At the age of 12, young Woodson began working in the styles of pen & ink and scratch-board etching. She was hired for local and personal commissions and submitted original pieces to local community art shows.
While in her high school years, Natalie attended school in the neighboring city of Danville VA, where she aided in teaching the computer art class in her junior and senior year.
In 2007, Natalie began her proper studies in the art world at The School of Visual Arts, NYC. This was her home and playground for four years. While at SVA, Natalie participated in 3 group shows and graduated in 2011 with a BFA in graphic design. It is in this department where she studied under, Adrienne Leban, Kevin O’Callaghan, Russ D’Anna, Tony Palladino, and Tim Samara. Each left a profound mark on her creative life.
For years, the artist stayed in the underground circuit, creating original art and photographing bands and musicians in New York City. That changed in the spring of 2017 when Natalie was injured during a routine tetanus shot which led to severe pain and depression. Through darkness and difficulty, the artist kept repeating to herself one sentence: ’life over death.’ This inspired the series of Skulls & Souls. Beginning with an animal’s skull the artist superimposes their life’s likeness and their soul’s voice through their eyes. With each element, harmony and balance are sought to reflect nature, time, and spirit. The series also replicated her artistic evolution in media. Started with graphite, pen & ink, etching, then, the craft of pyrography (wood-burning). This is the very mark Natalie felt she has been meant to leave on this world.
2019’s New Year’s resolution was to emerge from her underground and to share her passion with others. She entered her first public art show on July 31st, Conception Arts in TriBeCa, NYC. There, she won the Conception Arts Show’s Award of Excellence. Then her first group show, “Burn This” was the next day, August 1st where three pieces from Skulls & Souls were on display in Long Island City, NYC. Skulls & Souls has since been included in over 20 group shows ( and counting ).
As of April 2020, Natalie Woodson became a junior member of the Salmagundi Club and as of August 2020, a member of the Spliced Connector and SHIM Art Network.
In January of 2022, Natalie began a new chapter of her life in Montana where she has direct access to the very nature she has been only able to capture through her imagination. She has been brought to life and is reconstructing her soul's image as she has done for the skulls and souls of the wildlife in her works.