Artist. Creative. Explorer. Soulcare.
Artist Statement
I am fascinated by the collective experiences and stories that weave through the human experience. As a storyteller, I often play with concepts of self-awareness, evolution and exposure, sensuality, vulnerability, and at times, whimsy. My work, in turn, exhibits similar narratives, providing windows to my own sense of self in order to connect to the rest of the world. I often identify deeply with the characters or scenes, finding pieces of myself on each canvas, small hints of my own being portrayed with a look, a posture, a color, or a connection.
My current body of work utilizes acrylic, ink, paper, tempera, stencils and collage to create a sense of texture and contrast. I work in bold, vibrant colors, often blending directly on the canvas, sometimes pushing, washing, or dripping medium, or pollinating my brushes with different paint colors. I frequently integrate paper, either as part of a canvas, or as torn pieces placed in ways that create or highlight the figures in my work.
Much of my work reveals a surreal view of the human body, nature, or portraiture. I delight in portraying my subjects in colors and textures that often shift the viewer to examine the work more closely. There are often many layers, with subtle and careful selections of words or symbols, and a contrast of colors to reveal the subject. In the last few years, intuition has increasingly influenced my creative process, inspiring me to create with more boldness and flow.
Biography
From a young age, I identified as an artist. I utilized art to ground myself and like many artists, put aside an integral part of my self-expression as I emerged into adulthood and focused on work, marriage, and parenting. My last taste of formal art was an art minor in my early years on the tail of a BS in Education. An Artist’s Way workshop 14 years ago reawakened by creativity. I took up photography and fell in love with Instagram, created artist trading cards, explored art journaling, and gradually grew brave enough to give my artist a voice again.
I have facilitated Creative Soulcare Workshops, supported fellow emerging artists with warm encouragement, and participated in the life-shifting work of Intuitive Painting & Soul Collage™, all significantly transformative for my own work. Since then, I have been growing a collection that integrates my love of paper, collage, acrylic, ink, pen, adhesives and brilliant metallics.
Stepping out into the art world with small pieces that felt big, I had my first art works accepted by Nude Nite Tampa in 2012, “Warm & True” and “Holding Spaces”—both expressions of finding myself and new directions. Since then I have continued to be represented in the internationally juried Nude Nite Tampa/Orlando, as well as Studio Waltz in Dunedin (2019-2021) among various other shows throughout the Tampa Bay area. My most recent body of work, and that in which I work more prolifically producing an average of 50+ a year, is founded in “Intuitive Painting” introduced to me four years ago during my reawakening at the Dunedin Fine Art Center. Painting is now a large part of my life again.
PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND
- M.A. Mental Health Therapy / Specialization in Marriage & Family
- B.S. Elementary Education / Minor in Art
- Webdesigner/Developer; 2002- Present
- Computer Consultant & Trainer; 2003-Present
- Educator; 1992- Present
Art Event Timeline
2022
- Affection – Accepted to the Emotions – 2021 Exhibition and Publication (International)
- Androgeny – House of Shadows, Tampa, FL (3 pieces accepted)
- The HUB – Downtown Dunedin Co Working Space (selected as curator, and special show with two other artists: Bryan Voliton & Candy Schultheis): 10 Pieces
- Hope Grove Dunedin: (Dec 2021-February 2022) 19 Pieces Solo Show (and selected for future curation of other artists)
- Octagon Gallery: (January) 2 Pieces of work with a variety of PAVA artists
- Overflow Brewing Company: (Dec 2021-Feb 2022) 19 Pieces of work with other artists
2021
- Octagon Gallery: (December) 2 Pieces of work with a variety of PAVA artists
- Hope Grove Dunedin: (Dec 2021) 19 Pieces Solo Show (and selected for future curation of other artists)
- Five Deuces Galleria: Holiday Art Show (December) Juried – 3 Pieces of work with other artists
- Five Deuces Galleria: The New Wave (September) 24 Pieces of work as a guest artist for Julie Haura & with 10 other artists
- AIRShow: An Art Exhibition on the Theme of Recovery: (August) 2 Pieces of work with other artists at the QUAID Gallery
- 81 Brewing Company: (August-October) 10 Pieces of work with other artists
- PAVA Artists (June) Member Artist Show
- Clearwater Library – PAVA Artists show
- Overflow Brewing Company: (April-June) 10 Pieces of work with other artists
- Five Deuces Galleria: (March) 10 Pieces of work with 9 other artists (Meetup)
- Art of Angels Gallery: (February-April) 3 Pieces of work in Blush : The Evolution of Innocence
- Alafia Brewing Company: (March – May) 10 Pieces of work with other artists
- The Scone Age Cafe & Bakery: (February-May) 24 Pieces Solo Show at the Cafe (Thursday-Sunday Weekly)
- 81 Brewing Company: (February-April) 10 Pieces of work with other artists
- Alafia Brewing Company: (December 2020 – February 2021) 10 Pieces of work with other artists – Jan 24th “Meet the Artist”
- Art of Angels Gallery: (November 2020 -January 2021) 7 Pieces of work in Visions de l’érotisme : Expressions of Desire
2020
- Alafia Brewing Company: (December – February 2021) 10 Pieces of work at Grand Opening
- Art of Angels Gallery: (November-January 2021) 7 Pieces of work in Visions de l’érotisme : Expressions of Desire
- PAVA Cool Art Gallery: (September-January 2021) 6 Pieces in local Dunedin Gallery, with “The Watchman” requested to stay for special display
- Studio Waltz Participant: (October – CANCELLED DUE TO COVID) Backyard studio open and available to the public from 10a – 4pm – Website Design
- Artaritaville: (February 21) 6 Pieces of work on Pallete #8
- Nude Nite – Orlando/Tampa: (February 13-15/27-29) with 4 works of art; “Movement in Black,” “Energy in Red,” and “La Femme Bleu,” ” Sisters (in Blue)“
- Orlando Sentinel Featured Art: Nude Nite Orlando: ‘Body, mind and spirit focused’ (February 11)
- Largo Public Library: (February-March) “Children. And No Napkins.”
- Five Deuces Galleria: States of Being (January) with opening night, St. Pete Art Walk, and Wine-tasting night at the Gallery
- The Scone Age Bakery: Solo Show (January-February)
- WMNF Radio: Art in your Ear (radio interview) Listen after the 10 minute mark (1/3/2020)
2019
- Pinewoods Creative Pinellas Campus, “PAVA Members’ Exhibit and Associated Holiday Events”, Largo, FL
- Studio Waltz Participant: This special event is an all-day art walk through Dunedin with 14 artists in 12 home studios. My studio carried over 50 pieces
of work, and had over 100 people visit my backyard gallery (Nov 16) – Dunedin, FL - Redesigned Studio Waltz website
- Dunedin Fine Art Center: “Hue & Me” (Sept-Oct), Children. And No Napkins – Dunedin, FL
- Stirling Studios and Gallery: “Art to the Rescue”: Howl to the Sun, Dunedin, FL
- Dunedin Fine Art Center: “Student, Member & Faculty Show” #SMF (May-June), Taking Perspective – Dunedin, FL
- Victory Coffee: “Independent Show” (April -July), Channelside – Tampa, FL
- PAVA Exhibit at Octagon Arts Center – “Oracle Art Show”, Andrino/Little Friars, Largo, FL (Feb.-May)
- Tampa “Nude Nite” National Art Show: Movement in Black/Energy in Red, Tampa, FL (March)
- Orlando “Nude Nite” National Art Show: Bird on a Breeze/Grief Amidst Joy, Orlando, FL (February)
- Cheap Joes Art Stuff; 2019 Guide to Great Art Catalog, “What You’re Doing…“, Contemplation, pg.32
2018
- Tampa “Nude Nite” National Art Show: Moon Lighting, Tampa, FL
- Stirling Studios and Gallery: “Beatles Show”: Lady Blue/ Speaking Words of Wisdom (AKA Martini Lady), Dunedin, FL
- Community Cafe: “Oh the Places You’ll Go”, St. Petersburg, FL
- Pinewoods Creative Pinellas Campus, “PAVA Members’ Exhibit and Associated Holiday Events”, Largo, FL
- Stirling Studios and Gallery, “PAVA Exhibit”, Dunedin, FL
2017
- Tampa “Nude Nite” National Art Show: Moon Lighting, Tampa, FL
- Orlando “Nude Nite” National Art Show: Elements / Tossing the Stones, Orlando, FL
2016
- Tampa “Nude Nite” National Art Show: Grief Amidst Joy, Tampa, FL
- Museo Nacional de Guillermo Valencia, “Exposición de Estudiantes”, Colombia, SA
2015
- Tampa “Nude Nite” National Art Show: Elements, Tampa, FL
2014
- Tampa “Nude Nite” National Art Show: And She Gazes, Tampa, FL
- Facilitated Creative Soulcare (based on Artist Way) Workshops, Dunedin, FL
2013
- 2013 – Artwork at various Art Pop-Ups during St. Petersburg Art Walk
- Art Mash
2012 & Earlier
- 2012 –Tampa “Nude Nite” National Art Show: Warm & True / Holding Spaces, Tampa, FL
- 2010-2011 – Facilitated Creative Soulcare (based on Artist Way) Workshops Orlando, FL
- 2009 – 2010 – Artist Way Workshops began calling forth my love of creativity
- 2009 – Orlando “FIFTY50″ IADT Faculty/Student Creative Showcase
Evelyn Dufner
Artist | Creative
“Think left and think right and think low and think high. Oh, the thinks you can think up if only you try” – Dr. Seuss
Professional Association of Visual Artists (PAVA)
Photo by Jess Veguez Photography
Photography by Geoffrey Baris Photography
Nude Nite 2020 Orlando/Tampa
Nude Nite 2019 Orlando/Tampa
NudeNite-2017-Tampa
NudeNite-2017-Orlando
NudeNite-2018-Tampa
NudeNite-2016-Tampa
NudeNite-2015-Tampa
NudeNite-2014-Tampa
