Artist Statement: Alice Burroughs
Alice Burroughs
Celeste Van Kirk/Observer-Reporter
Alice Burroughs in her South Franklin Township home
Celeste Van Kirk/Observer-Reporter
Burroughs’ work, “Chrysanthemum” linocut
Celeste Van Kirk/Observer-Reporter
Burroughs is currently working on an oil on panel piece, “Sweet Gum Leaves and Seed Pods”
Artist Statement is an occasional series highlighting local artists.
Alice Burroughs, South Franklin Township
Tell us about yourself: I grew up on a farm in Amwell Township, and graduated from Trinity High School and the Art Institute of Pittsburgh. My husband Parker, a longtime former editor of the Observer-Reporter, and I have lived and raised our two children in a house we built in South Franklin Township 42 years ago.
Celeste Van Kirk/Observer-Reporter
Celeste Van Kirk/Observer-Reporter
Burroughs’ work, “Readers” etching and aquatint
I worked as an illustrator for Horne’s Department Store in Pittsburgh, Jordan Marsh in Miami, Fla., and freelanced for the May Company and Nordstrom’s. At that time, from the 1960s through the 1980s, most large department stores used illustrations instead of photography in their newspaper ads. I drew everything from women and children to furniture and housewares.
I was fortunate to be able to work at home when my children were young. Being exposed to my art and my husband’s at an early age – although not pushed in that direction – our children, Brody and Caitlyn, both went on to earn master’s of fine arts degrees in painting.
By the late 1980s and early ’90s, most stores had switched to photography for advertising. With little freelance work, I now had the time to explore more creative work, starting with watercolor and moving on to oil painting, printmaking and ceramics.
An etching class, at the Center for the Arts in Pittsburgh, opened up a new world of printmaking for me. I love this Old World method of making art; from the beginning inspiration for the piece to the final step of pulling the first print, you are never sure of how it’s going to turn out.
Celeste Van Kirk/Observer-Reporter
Celeste Van Kirk/Observer-Reporter
Burroughs’ work, “Squash Blossom” etching and aquatint
Artist statement: I am inspired by nature and find most of my subjects in my own yard, from a cicada to a twisted squash blossom. Every season offers a wealth of color, light and shadow.
I am also inspired by people. Having drawn the human figure since art school, I continue to be fascinated by the complexity of the human body, and the fact that no two faces are exactly alike.
What are you currently working on? I am currently working on a painting of dried leaves and seeds. I am a detail person, and my work reflects it and takes a long time from start to finish. I am also finishing a lino-cut of daylilies.
I am working on illustrations for Mary Jo Podgurski’s latest book in her “Nonnie” series, which deal with issues children and teens face, such as death, puberty and race.
Alice Burroughs illustrates Mary Jo Podgurski’s “Nonnie Talks” series.
What is your assessment of the local art scene? This area has a wealth of artists who have and continue to contribute their talent and energy to the community, in spite of a lack of outlets to display and sell their work. My hope is that the younger generation of artists will fill the needs that the Washington Artists’ Co-op and WashArts once filled.
Where can we see your work? The Pittsburgh Center for the Arts