Bio
Connie Gross grew up near Cleveland Ohio in a family of Artisans. Woodworking and painting were their mode of expression. Her grandfather's hand crafted violins are still sought after today by collectors. She attended Cleveland Institute of Art majoring in illustration. It was during her years at the Institute that her work began to take on an illustrative quality that was later incorporated into her painted pieces. With each landscape abstraction she infuses with color and movement her love of all elements of the natural world, her unique portrait of the earth.
Ms Gross began her art career as an illustrator. Some of her clients have been: the Cedar Rapids Gazette, the Cedar Rapids Symphony, Indian Creek Nature Center and Cedar Rapids Libraries. She is also currently the court artist for the Cedar Rapids Federal Court/channel 9 news. Connie's court illustrations have appeared nationally on CNN and CNBC news.
In addition, her work is in many public and private collections throughout the United States and Canada as well as corporate collections; including those of the Ronald McDonald House, Physician's Clinic of Iowa, Freund Vector Corporation , Millhiser Smith, Kirkwood Community College St Luke's and Mercy Hospitals. Connie is currently represented by the Black Earth Gallery, New Bohemia District, Cedar Rapids Iowa.
Ms Gross began her art career as an illustrator. Some of her clients have been: the Cedar Rapids Gazette, the Cedar Rapids Symphony, Indian Creek Nature Center and Cedar Rapids Libraries. She is also currently the court artist for the Cedar Rapids Federal Court/channel 9 news. Connie's court illustrations have appeared nationally on CNN and CNBC news.
In addition, her work is in many public and private collections throughout the United States and Canada as well as corporate collections; including those of the Ronald McDonald House, Physician's Clinic of Iowa, Freund Vector Corporation , Millhiser Smith, Kirkwood Community College St Luke's and Mercy Hospitals. Connie is currently represented by the Black Earth Gallery, New Bohemia District, Cedar Rapids Iowa.
Statement
Since 2001, I have devoted my time and artistic energy to my abstract/expressionistic paintings of land, water and life. I became inspired to create abstracted landscapes after noticing the natural beauty and depth of the Iowa prairies. I was captivated by the subtly varied earth tones and changing light patterns of the Midwest terrain. The land lends itself to be portrayed by abstract expressive forms. Even though I am land locked, so to speak, the ocean is my second home. After visiting Hawaii, the coast of Mexico and Florida, I fell in love with the colors, pattern of light and never ending motion of water. My passion and desire is to convey at least a portion of the beauty of the land and water through my expressionistic forms.
In my work I seek to balance the relationship between reality, memory and abstraction. I strive to instill with the medium of paint and canvas a mystery and excitement of the subject and in doing so, the painting becomes uniquely personal to the viewer. I believe that it is the painters’ duty to take the subject, be it landscape, the human face, whatever motivates and inspires and remove the mindset boundaries of shape and color to give the subject and painting a new identity. I feel it is an honor when the viewer identifies with my paintings and gives it a special place in their life and dwelling place.
In my work I seek to balance the relationship between reality, memory and abstraction. I strive to instill with the medium of paint and canvas a mystery and excitement of the subject and in doing so, the painting becomes uniquely personal to the viewer. I believe that it is the painters’ duty to take the subject, be it landscape, the human face, whatever motivates and inspires and remove the mindset boundaries of shape and color to give the subject and painting a new identity. I feel it is an honor when the viewer identifies with my paintings and gives it a special place in their life and dwelling place.