The Orion Art Center’s artist of the year, Andrea Lozano of Clarkston, has had the unique experience of living two different cultures, spending part of her childhood in Mexico, and then living in Michigan. Patron of the year Sherry Curtis found her talent for jewelry making and painting later in life.
The former owner of the Art of Living studio/gallery, which was in downtown Lake Orion for four years, Lozano has been painting for 30 years, using pastels and oils.
Born in Mexico City, she attended high school in Guadalajara, Mexico, and started her formal art training at 13 years old, attending the University of Guadalajara’s Fine Arts School.
After high school, Lozano came to Michigan, where her mother Janet was born, and attended Olivet College.
‘My mother had gone to Mexico to study, and stayed there,? Lozano said. ‘I grew up bilingual and knowing both cultures. We made frequent trips to Michigan.
‘I always felt like I was a bridge (between the two cultures).?
Lozano felt like she belonged in both Mexico and Michigan, and at the same time didn’t.
‘I like to paint scenery of Mexico,? she said. ‘I think one’s roots are very ingrained.?
Lozano has also freelanced as a graphic designer, and opened Art of Living in 2000, inspired by and taking over the space of Lake Orion’s own artist, the late Helen Cunniff.
‘She had inspired me to return to my painting, and I wished to pay her for it by keeping the gallery open and continuing her legacy,? Lozano said.
At Art of Living, Lozano explored what she says is the true ‘art of living,? portraiture.
‘I enjoy doing portraits,? she said. ‘I also do landscapes and still life…but I love the variety in faces, and I love making the connection with people.?
At the Art of Living gallery, Lozano had classes for live painting, and has continued that even as the gallery closed, holding workshops in her home and at client locations.
It was through teaching portraiture that Lozano became involved with the Orion Art Center.
‘It’s very important for artists to see the process (of painting),? she said. ‘How you apply the paint. I’m able to paint and talk, and not many artists can do that.?
Lozano also tries to bring humor and depth into her teaching.
‘I like that ‘ah ha? moment, when a student really gets something,? she said.
Lozano always considered the OAC a sister organization to her Art of Living gallery, and thinks it does a invaluable service to the community.
‘I think every community needs to have an art center like this,? she said. ‘To help keep the arts alive, especially during hard economic times. The arts get overlooked in the public schools.?
Lozano believes she is doing what she is supposed to be doing when she paints, and that she does it for herself.
‘If people get something out of it, that’s wonderful,? she said. ‘I get the joy of seeing someone else moved by a piece…that’s why doing the portraits of children is particularly enjoyable.?
Lozano has three children of her own, all boys: Alex, 15; Sean, 13; and Dylan, 10.
‘I don’t push them to be artists,? she said. ‘But they encourage me, they say ‘Mom, you are an artist.??
Lozano, when she’s not teaching, spends her time working on commissioned paintings.
‘I have a piece that I have donated for the (OAC’s) Snowflake Ball,? she said. ‘It’s called ‘Regis,? and it’s a picture of a rooster…I consider animals part of my portraiture work.?
Lozano said a portrait can be of anything someone wants to preserve a memory of, even a garden or a back yard.
‘I like to meet with (the client) at their location. I like to do a consultation, and see the space where the portrait might be hung,? she said. ‘I want it to be an enjoyable experience from beginning to end.?
Lozano also likes to keep her work affordable.
‘I don’t want it prohibitively priced,? she said. ‘I like to work with people’s budgets.?
Lozano still likes to visit Mexico, where the light and colors inspire her paintings.
‘I was there at Christmas, recharging the battery,? she said.
Curtis, who is currently the president of OAC’s board of directors, found the art center after she moved into a new house in Lake Orion and was looking for something to put on the walls.
‘I went to Helen Cuniff, and she kept telling me to join the art center,? she said. ‘I came to one annual meeting 10 years ago, and next thing I know, I’m on the board.?
Curtis, originally from St. Clair Shores, sells her handmade jewelry at OAC, a talent she said she found she had later in life, after she was out of school.
‘I went to the dentist one day, and there was a bead shop next door,? she explained. ‘Then I took a metal smithing class. That was 15 years ago.?
Curtis, who also does some painting, creates necklaces, bracelets, pins and earrings using metal, beads and stones.
‘It takes about six hours for a simpler piece,? she said. ‘It’s taken me up to a week working on one before.?
Curtis isn’t sure where her ideas come from, but said sometimes stones just speak to her.
‘When you look at some stones, you get an idea right away,? she added. ‘It’s almost like they talk to you.
‘I have so many stones now, if I never bought another piece, I could probably still work for the rest of my life,? she said.
Curtis credits much of her success to the support of her family: Husband of 37 years, Tim; daughter Natalie, 29; and son Mark, 36.
Natalie recently moved to Dallas, and Mark lives in Plymouth with his wife and Curtis? two granddaughters, Madison, 4; and Amanda, 2.
‘If they hadn’t helped me out at home, I wouldn’t be getting this award,? Curtis said. ‘When I found out (she was Patron of the Year), I was so surprised. There are so many people here who work hard. I felt everyone deserved it.?
Curtis has served as OAC president for two years, and was previously the secretary and treasurer. She said the OAC is an important asset for the community.
‘When you get to junior high age, there’s no art,? she said. ‘We have a lot of classes here on Saturdays and after school…It’s good for people like me, who didn’t have art in school.?
When she’s not creating jewelry, Curtis oil paints, and she recently painted a mural for her granddaughters? walls.
Asked if any of her artistic talent had rubbed off on her children, Curtis said her daughter has a talent for decorating and Madison likes to dance.
‘The younger one tries to dance when she sees her sister doing it,? she said.
One of Curtis? goals as president is to make the OAC more visible in the Orion community.
‘We have classes year-round,? she said. ‘I’d like to see people be more aware of it. We’re starting on our 26th year, and we still have people come in and say ‘Oh, I never knew you were here.??
Curtis would also like to see the space expanded.
‘We have a beautiful location here, but we’re running out of space,? she said. ‘There are mixed feelings about whether to expand here, or move to a new location.
‘We’re bursting at the seems here,? Curtis said, adding that she believed her Patron of the Year award should be shared with the whole board.
‘We have a fabulous board,? she said.