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Ardith Starostka
(American b.1962)
Portraits
and figurative paintings are a work of passion for artist Ardith
Starostka. Beginning at the age of twelve, Ardith has had the desire to
create works of art that capture the likeness of the human face and
form. Basically self taught, Ardith found her inspiration in museums
through the works of 19th century French academic painter
William Adolphe Bouguereau and Dutch artist Rembrandt. Ardith is a
graduate of the University of Nebraska with a Bachelor of Science degree
in Business and an Associates degree in Art. Ardith has continued her
education in fine art by attending workshops with distinguished artists,
Nelson Shanks, Daniel Greene and Richard Whitney.
With skilled
craftsmanship and a keen eye for detail, Ardith portrays her subjects in
a extraordinary realistic style with primarily oils, but also paints in
pastel and watercolor. Ardith was chosen from over 30,000 artists to
create a piece for a special meeting at the White House in 1995. With
her building success in painting portraits, she stepped into the art
world full time in 2000. That year she won top honors at the Portrait
Society of America International Portrait Competition. In 2001 she was
named ‘A rising star in the firmament of American Portraiture” by The
Artist Magazine and won First Place & People’s Choice Award at Ernestine
Quick Memorial Competition.
In the years
of 2002 through 2011, Ardith has continued to win major awards at the
annual competition of the Portrait Society of America International
Portrait competitions, American Mothers Association , Ernestine Quick
Memorial Competition, Art Renewel Center International Juried Salon,
National Arts for the Parks Competition, Salon International at
International Museum of Contemporary Masters of Fine Art, Paint America
National Competition, among others.
In 2009,
Ardith was selected for Signature Membership in the prestigious
organization International Guild of Realism and also was awarded Master
Signature membership in the American Women Artists. She is a member of
Oil Painters of America, Portrait Society of America, American Society
of Traditional Artists, Master Signature Member of Mid America Pastel
Society, and Master Signature Member of Pastel Society of America.
Her
paintings are included in collections at: the Blair House and the White
House, Washington, D.C.; the Wright Brothers Museum, Nagshead, North
Carolina; Cessna Aircraft, Inc.; the Decorative Arts Collection Museum,
Wichita, Kansas; Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska; and many private
collections across the U.S. Jones & Terwilliger Galleries exclusively
represents Ardith Starostka in the United States.
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