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ABOUT THE ARTIST . . .
ARTIST STATEMENT . . .
AILEEN'S RESUME . . .
ABOUT THE ARTIST...
Aileen Rodriguez Imperatrice
Born and raised in Fresno, California, Aileen has shown artistic
interest since childhood. Throughout her life, she has experimented with
many different art forms, studying formally within school walls or in
independent practice and study. Aileen went on to attain a Bachelor of
Arts degree in Commercial Arts/ Advertising Design with a minor in
Psychology from CSU, Fresno. These chosen fields of study give Aileen
the unique outlook she expresses in her work. “I have always been
attracted to bold images. Boldness in color, shape, line and feel.” It
is this same attraction that also influences her choice of media.
Aileen has worked professionally as a graphic artist, advertising
coordinator, and in IS administration, all the while maintaining
involvement in the artistic community by taking part in various art
exhibitions and auctions. As the request for her work became greater,
Aileen made a life altering decision to resign her position with The
Fresno Bee and become a professional artist full-time. She now owns a
studio/gallery in the Tower District, where her work is featured and the
works of other artists are also exhibited.
Aileen continues her art education in many forms today, studying and
experimenting on her own as well as learning from formal workshops and
from other artist resources. “With each piece I do, I continue to learn
and with each exhibit I view, I continue to be inspired.” She also
credits her life experience, including familial and cultural influences,
as playing a large part in how she expresses herself through her work.
Aileen continues her artistic career while having worked in recent years
as the Program Coordinator for the Fresno Arts Council, Art Committee
Chair for the San Joaquin River Parkway Trust - Parties for the Parkway,
Artist Coordinator for the Greater Fresno Area Chamber of Commerce and
the Fresno Rogue Festival. While continuing as an arts consultant to
many prominent arts organizations, she now is a member of the Fresno
Coalition of Arts, Sciences and History, Creative Fresno, the Rogue
Festival Board and has judged various art competitions for City and
State recognized organizations. She continues to receive awards and
recognition for her work both locally and nationally.
ARTIST STATEMENT . . .
As an artist I try to express the emotions and
experiences I encounter in my daily life. I feel a great need to put
into visual form, images which enter my thoughts or that strike my
attention. Often I find my greatest inspirations come from within my
dreams. I wake to a strong image and quickly sketch it down before it
escapes. Then I’ll come back to it later and put it into the creative
form I choose.
Probably the most interesting aspect of the whole process, is that I
feel compelled to form these images visually to gain release from them,
otherwise they continue to reappear in my thoughts. I am not always sure
what they really represent, but they make an interesting study.
As a 3rd Generation Mexican-American, my cultural experiences have been
a mixture of my identity as an American born and raised citizen and the
traditions of my Mexican culture. Largely in thanks to my parents for
exposure to some basic traditions and to my extended family for their
many talents, their sharing has allowed me a lifetime of rich
experiences. With this in mind, I have come to realize that my
culturally combined lifetime experience is unique and valuable. My
impressions of what I have seen and felt up to this point greatly
influence the way I express myself and how I choose to involve myself in
the community.
While I do not always create art that is ethnic in theme, it does
sometimes seem to come naturally. I have been told one can feel my
cultural expression through the bright and vivid colors I choose for my
work. In addition, I feel a strong desire for simplicity in line, not
only reflects my graphic arts education, but my impressions of various
traditional events. My work is both representational and abstract and I
use color as a tool for expressing emotions. It’s the experience of
feelings day to day and the visual memories we are left with. I want the
viewer to enjoy the primary simplicity of rich color and bold line,
while also leaving with the sense of shared experiences.
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