Gretchen Foster has been a painter and potter for more than thirty years. She studied graduate oil painting at Michigan State University with Ralph Henricksen and Clif McChesney and watermedia painting with Richard O’Malley and Mark Mehaffey. She has participated in workshops conducted by Cheng Khee Chee, Kathleen Conover, Helga Flower, Jan Sitts, Linda Baker and George James. She is a co-founder of the Greater Lansing Potter’s Guild and holds a PhD in English from Michigan State University, where she taught for 15 years.
Together with painter and photographer Juanita Baldwin, she founded the Lansing Area Artists’ Connection in January, 2007, a group of about 35 artists who show their work at the new Mid-Michigan Professional Building, Lake Lansing Road, Lansing.
Memberships include: the Deckled Edge Artists’ Group, International Society of Experimental Artists, Lansing Art Gallery, Michigan Water Color Society, Mid-Michigan Art Guild (president 2007-08), MSU Community Club (Artists’ Group), Mason Art Guild, Second Mondays Artists’ Group, Williamston and Shiawassee Arts Center.
HONORS AND AWARDS
- Greater Lansing Orchid Show, 2 nd place watercolor 2011.
- Michigan Watercolor Society Exhibit, Award, 2011
- Greater Lansing Orchid Show, Honorable Mention, Watercolor 2010
- “Celebration of the Arts,” United Methodist Church, Grand Rapids, juried show, two entries accepted, February, 2010.
- “Greater Lansing Women’s Magazine,” featured artist, January 2010, issue
- Michigan All Media Show (juried), Shiawassee Arts Center, Owosso, MI, 2009
- Greater Lansing Orchid Society Show, 1st place watercolor, 2009
- Scene Metrospace juried show, 2009
- Banyan Gallery “Skin–the Human Body” Honorable Mention, 2007
- Lansing Community College Purchase Award, 2007
- Mid-Michigan Art Guild “Twelve by Twelve” show, 3rd place, 2006
- Mid-Michigan Art Guild Okemos Library Invitational show, 3rd place, 2005
- Michigan Water Color Society, Dulcie and Norman Rosenfeld Award, 2005
- Lansing Community College, Purchase Award, 2005
- Hope Borbas Library, Purchase Award, 2003
- Mid-Michigan Art Guild Spring Exhibit, 3rd place, 2003
- Shiawassee Arts Center, Open Show (juried), 2003
PAINTINGS IN PRIVATE MUSEUMS
- “The ‘Ole D,’” Crouse Family Museum, Hartland, MI.
- Framers' Edge, Okemos, 2011
- Riverwalk Theatre, Lansing, 2011
- Shiawassee Arts Center, Docent Gallery, 2006;
- Hope Borbas Okemos Library, 2006 (with Douglas Thayer);
- Williamston Theatre Gallery, 2008;
- Women’s Hall of Fame, Lansing, 2008.
Group Shows - East Lansing Hannah Public Art Gallery, 2009, Gracie’s restaurant, Williamston MI; Absolute Gallery, Lansing; Technology Innovation Center, E. Lansing; Clark-Hill Law Firm, Lansing.
OTHER PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
- Teaching assignments: Shiawassee Art Center workshop, 2005.
- Judging: Greater Lansing Orchid Show, 2007.
- Critiques: Mason Art Guild, June 2008; MSU Community Club, April 2009.
SHOWS AND EXHIBITS:
One-and Two-Person Shows