Bio
The Artist
The Technique
The Shows
EMELINA M. Figueroa Symonds, was born in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mx. But she calls Arizona her home. As a child, she demonstrated mature artistic talents in the areas of art, dance, singing and writing. She began her artistic studies in 1991 under the private instruction of Olga Quinones, specializing in traditional European oil painting techniques. Later on, she became involved with non-toxic printmaking methods under the instruction of Beth Lacour, which influenced her to incorporate health and environmentally friendly processes into her painting approach. She now creates her URBANIC (short for Urban-Organic) Mixed-Media Paintings by using acrylic and water based art materials along with organic elements such as marble powder, sand, wood, seeds, coffee, fibers, grains, other natural and recycled items. EMELINA’s Contemporary and Abstract paintings are also influenced by her Latino background. She finds her inspiration in nature, love, spirituality, and the arts. Her work has been exhibited in National and International Shows and Galleries in Arizona, California and Mexico. EMELINA’s paintings and prints have been sold to art collectors from the United States, Mexico, Sweden, Japan and Saudi Arabia. She has also performed art demonstrations, lessons and workshops in corporate and private settings along with a monthly TV art lesson segment on AMAZ on Channel 7/cable 13.BLOG: www.efineartz.blogspot.comPRESS: Inkless Magazine. May 2009. “The Waves of Emelina’s Art” behind Apollo’s Video Performance.Earth Odyssey Magazine. April 2009. “Artist Mixes Natural Elements Into Her Paints” by Ann Harver-Allen.Art Business News. February 2009. “Artists Ride the Green Waive” by Gabriel Kiley.Read It News. January 2009. “Wild Iris Coffeehouse Presents Passion and Poetry Night”.Poprocket. January 2009. “The Art of Poetry” by Dan Seaman.Poprocket. November 2008. “On Art and Inspiration-EMELINA” by Kristin Ostrum.Monsoon. September 2008. “EMELINA-The Beauty of Urban-Organic” by Grayleaf Galleria.Daily Courier. August 2008. “Artist Teaches Students About the Beauty of Texture & Non-Toxic Materials” by Joanne C. TwaddellArizona Collectors Guide.
What is Urbanic Mixed-Media Art? I wanted to find a word or a concept that would represent my contemporary and abstract paintings. URBANIC is short for Urban-Organic. My Urbanic Mixed-Media Art is about incorporating health and environmentally friendly art materials with organic items. It is about recycling and reinventing ideas to create art that helps us connect more with our-selves, nature and other people; therefore by bringing a more organic feeling into our busy urban life style. It is also about bringing together intentional creativity with health and environmentally friendly materials to make a beautiful world out of art! Why do I use eco-friendly products and materials? I studied non-toxic printmaking techniques from 1998-2001, and one of the techniques involved UV light, baking soda, and computer film (among other materials). I loved the concept of natural elements merged with technology for the purpose of being health and environmentally friendly when printmaking. I felt inspired to adopt those values when creating my mixed-media paintings. As a result, I became more conscious of the materials and methods I use and how to better handle them. I also learned about other innovative mixed-media processes and then I switched from oil paints to acrylic and water base materials. I have been incorporating organic elements into my paintings since I was a child because I love their shapes, textures, colors and the way they feel when working with them. They remind me of how beautiful and special the little things in life are. What placed you into this current art direction? My paintings are inspired by Nature, Love, Spirituality, Personal Transformation and Development, Science, Celebration, Life, and the Arts. My technique and style are the result of integrating my curiosity, explorations and experimentations with concepts and methods I have learned from others in the past. Also, having struggled with my health and personal life in the past, I began looking for solutions in books, people and alternative sources. In 2004 I made a big shift in my life for the better and was called to create Art for myself. I created my own visual reminders: images that would encourage and inspire me to feel what I desire in life.
PAST GALLERY EXHIBITSGrayleaf Galleria. Prescott, AZ.Arizona Fine Art Expo. Scottsdale, AZMEMBERSHIPSAce Art GroupAWARDS & RECOGNITIONSBeyond Words Gallery. Juried Show. First Place Winner in Non-toxic Intaglio printmaking and Honorable Mention in Mixed Media painting. Sunflower Art Festival. Prescott, AZ. Summer 2003.Arizona Artist Guild. Award. Spring 1998 and Spring 2000.Mountain Artist Guild. Award. Fall 1997 and 1998.The Phoenix Center for Community Arts. Visual Arts Center. Juried Show. Obtained 1st place in 3-D Mixed-Media Painting and 2nd in 2-D Mixed-Media Painting. Phoenix, AZ. Summer 1999. SCHOOLINGYavapai College. Prescott, AZ. (Painting, figurative live drawing, non-toxic Intaglio Printmaking/etching-lithography-mono-printing, ceramic sculpting, color pencil.)Private Lessons with Olga Quinones in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mx. (Traditional European Oil Painting & pastels)Centro Cultural de las Artes in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mx. (Pencil drawing and ink)*Associate of Arts Degree: Fine Art & Foreign Languages. Yavapai College.*Bachelors of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies & Professional Communication. Old Dominion University.COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTIONALAC: Advocates for Latin_ Arts and CultureYavapai Big Brothers/Big SistersPrescott Area Arts & Humanities CouncilPrescott Fine Arts AssociationElks Opera HouseSoroptimist International.Yavapai Humane Society.United Animal FriendsStepping Stones.Mountain Artist Guild.Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.Centro Cultural de las Artes y Cultura. Huachinera,Son.Mx. SHOWS AND EVENTSAugust 2009-Art Unraveled workshop.January-March 2009-AZ Fine Art Expo. Scottsdale, AZ.December 2008-Monthly TV segment on AM AZ show/Art Demonstration.November 2008- “Latte Gone Wild” Ace Art Group in Wild Iris Coffee House. November 2008-Yavapai Big Brother’s/Big Sisters Annual Gala Event. Reservations required.Fall 2008-PAAHC Fall Arts Festival & Studio Tour/Elks Theater Featured Artist. September 2008. Prescott, AZ.Fall 2008-Celebrating Prescott’s Artists-Prescott Fine Arts Association. Juried Show. 3rd Place Ribbon. Sep & Oct 2008. Prescott, AZ.Fall 2008-Featured Artists at Grayleaf Galleria. Month of September 2008. Prescott, AZ.Summer 2008-58th Summer Art Festival/Mountain Artists Guild. August 2008. Prescott, AZ.Summer July 2008-May 2009-Live Monthly TV Art Demos on AM Arizona-Channel TV7/Cable 13. July 9th, Aug 28th, Sep 24th, Oct 29th, 2008. Prescott, AZ.Summer 2008-Natural Expressions! Mixed-Media Painting Class. Adult Center of Prescott. June 2008-Present. Prescott, AZ.Spring 2008-4th Friday Art Walk at Grayleaf Galleria. On going show & Live Art Demonstration. May 2008-Present. Prescott, AZ.Spring 2008-22nd Spring Art Festival/Mountain Artists Guild. May 2008. Prescott, AZ.Spring 2008-Valley of the Arts/Village of Arrowhead Art Show. April 2008. Glendale, AZ.Spring 2008-Nickel Creek Gallery. Live Art Demonstration. March 2008. Cave Creek, AZ.Winter 2008-Arzona Fine Art Expo. Jan-Mar 2008. Scottsdale, AZ.Fall 2007-First Friday Art Walk. December 2007. Phoenix, AZ.Fall 2007-Estrella Community College Cesar Chavez Commemoration Event. Art Show 2007. Glendale, AZ.Fall 2007-First Friday Art Walk. November 2007. Phoenix, AZ.Fall 2007-Fall Festival of Fine Arts & Crafts. October 2007. MAG & Friends of YC Arts. Prescott, AZ.Fall 2007– Del Mar Art Stroll. October 2007. Juried Show. Del Mar, CA.Fall 2007-First Friday Art Walk. September 2007. Phoenix, AZ.Summer 2007- Mountain Artists Guild. Prescott Square Show. August 2007. Prescott, AZ.Summer 2007-First Friday Art Walk. June 2007. Phoenix, AZ.Spring 2007--Yavapai Humane Society Annual Gala Fund Raiser. Prescott, AZ.Spring 2007--United Foster Animals Annual Auction Fund Raiser. Prescott, AZ.Spring 2007--Soroptimist International Annual Auction Fund Raiser. Prescott Valley, AZ.Winter 2007---Mountain Spirit Co-Op Gallery. Jan & Feb.Prescott, AZ.Fall 2006--PV Business Fair. Winner's Circle. Prescott Valley, AZ.Fall 2006---ARTTHE4-Art Walk. Prescott, AZFall 2006 ---Soroptimist International Fund Raiser Art Show. Day of the Death Celebration. Prescott Valley, AZ. Fall 2006---Hispanic Chamber of Commerce-Fund Raiser Banquet. Prescott, AZ. Spring 2006-Present---Ah Bellisima Gallery. Old Fire House Plaza. Prescott, AZ. Spring 2006-Present--- Lifeways Gallery. Prescott, AZ. Spring 2006-Spring 2007---Newman’s Gallery. Prescott, AZ. Spring 2006---Spring in Sedona Arts & Craft Show. May. Sedona, AZ.Spring 2006---Black Motors Show. April & May. Sedona, AZ.Spring 2006-The Framer’s Market & Gallery. Prescott, AZ. Fall 2005---Hispanic Chamber of Commerce-Fund Raiser Banquet. Northern Arizona Division. Prescott, AZ. Spring 2004---Beyond Words Gallery. Juried Show. Prescott, AZ. Fall 2003---Mountain Artists Guild. Juried Show. Prescott, AZ. Fall 2003---Beyond Words Gallery. Juried Show. Prescott, AZ. Summer 2003--Glass Galleria. Prescott, AZ. Summer 2003 ---Muse Gallery. Prescott, AZ. Summer 2003---World’s Art Festival. Prescott Valley, AZ. Summer 2003---Beyond Words Gallery. Juried Show. First Place Winner in Non-toxic Intaglio printmaking and Honorable Mention in Mixed Media painting. Sunflower Festival. Prescott, AZ. Spring 2003---Prescott College.”Vagina Monologues” & Art Show, Fund Raising Event to Benefit the Shanti Wellness Center for Women. Prescott, AZ. Fall 2002---Shoe String Gallery. Prescott, AZ. Fall 2001---Yavapai College Art Gallery. Student Juried Show. Honorable Mention in Mixed Media Drawing. Prescott, AZ. Fall 2000---Art One Gallery. Scottsdale, AZ. Spring 2000---Yavapai College Art Gallery. Student Juried Show. Obtained 1st place in Ceramics. Prescott, AZ. Fall 1999--- Yavapai College Art Gallery. Student Juried Show. Obtained 2nd place in 2-D Painting. Prescott, AZ. Fall 1999---Art One Gallery. Scottsdale, AZ. Summer 1999---The Phoenix Center for Community Arts. Visual Arts Center. Juried Show. Obtained 1st place in 3-D Mixed Media Painting and 2nd in 2-D Painting. Phoenix, AZ. Spring 1998---Mountain Artist Gallery. Prescott, AZ. Spring 1997---Mountain Artist Gallery. Prescott, AZ. 1996-1998---Arte Pop Gallery. Hermosillo, Sonora, Mx. 1994-1999---Antigua Gallery. Hermosillo, Sonora , Mx.
