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Marion Cloaninger Innovative Art

Born in the USA, 1950

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Spirals, circles, abstract designs, textures and figures have always intrigued me.  

 

I use bright acrylic colors, make marks and use elements of collage to bring excitement to a work of art.  

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Exploring mixed media and beautiful colors is comparable to indulging in good dark chocolate.


Marion Cloaninger is best known for her colorful acrylic mixed media paintings. Her process involves creating layers, applied in non-traditional ways, using acrylic paint, papers, monoprints and found collage elements. Her subjects range from vivid abstracts to semi-abstracts of landscapes, flowers and figures. Her approach is to explore, take risks and be open to the unexpected.

Galleries & Representation

  • Carlton Gallery, Foscoe, NC - represented by since 2004

  • Florence Art School, West Jefferson, NC - represented by since 2018

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  • Out of the Blue art group (four women artists) - memberAshe County Arts Council, West Jefferson, NC - member

  • Watauga County Arts Council, Boone, NC - member

  • Wilkes Art Gallery, Wilksboro, NC - member

  • Blowing Rock Art & History Museum, Blowing Rock NC - member

  • Turchin Center for the Visual Arts, Boone, NC - member

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Awards & Recognitions

2022

  • Honorable Mention / International Art Gallery Juried Online Exhibit - Abstracts

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2021

  • Second Place / Best Of The Blue Ridge Exhibition​​ at Ashe County Arts Council

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2020

  • Third Place / Best Of The Blue Ridge Exhibition​​ at Ashe County Arts Council

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​​​2018

  • First Place (Mixed Media Division) / 39th Northwest Artist’s Juried Exhibition at Wilkes Art Gallery​​

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2017

  • First Place (Mixed Media Division) / 38th Northwest Artist’s Juried Exhibition at Wilkes Art Gallery

  • Third Place / Petal Pushers at Blue Ridge ArtSpace

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2016

  • Second Place / NAL Exhibit at Wilkes Art Gallery

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2014

  • Honorable Mention / The Winter Art Contest at Cheap Joe's Art Stuff / Professional Category

  • Award / Blue Ridge Art Space Exhibition

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2012

  • Third Place / The Winter Art Contest at Cheap Joe's Art Stuff / Professional Category

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2011

  • First Place / The Winter Art Contest at Cheap Joe's Art Stuff / Professional Category

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2010

  • Published By We’moon / The Spirit Of We’moon 30 Years Anthology

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2009

  • First Place / Best Of The Blue Ridge Exhibition at Ashe County Arts Council

  • Third Place / High Country Watercolor Society Exhibition

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2004-2008

  • Published By We’moon (2008, 2005, 2004)

  • Published In All About Women (2007)

  • Third Place / High Country Watercolor Society Exhibition (2006)

  • Third Place / High Country Watercolor Society Exhibition at Lees-Mcrae College (2005)     

  • Honorable Mention / High Country Watercolor Society Exhibition (2005)​

 

Classes / Demos

Numerous classes and demos in:

  • Background Painting

  • Family Portrait and Abstract Collage 

  • Use of the Gelli-Plate

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Education

 Study with Tim Ford, Kate Worm, The Turchin Center and Vae Hamilton.

Exhibitions

Yearly Exhibitions

  • Miniatures Show / Ashe County Arts Council

  • Postcards From The Edge / Visual Aids Benefit in New York City, NY

  • Winter Art Contest / Cheap Joe's Art Stuff

 
Selected Exhibitions 2022-2010

 

2022

  • 43rd Northwest Artist's Juried Exhibition** / Wilkes Art Gallery

  • All Creatures Great and Small / Florence Art School

  • Best of the Blue Ridge** / Ashe County Arts Council

  • High Country Scenes / King Street Art Collective

  • International Art Gallery Juried Online Exhibit - Abstracts* **

  • Juried Exhibit** / Yadkin Arts Council

  • Landscapes and Life Exhibit with Lauren Waterworth / King Street Art Collective

  • Out of the Blue Exhibit*** / Jones House Cultural Center

  • Roots of Love / Ashe County Arts Council

  • Yes*** / Wilkes Art Gallery

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2021

  • 42nd Northwest Artist's Juried Exhibition** / Wilkes Art Gallery

  • 6” x 6” Exhibit / Watauga County Arts Council

  • Best of the Blue Ridge* ** / Ashe County Arts Council

  • Exhibit with Lauren Waterworth / Seby B. Jones Regional Cancer Center at Watauga Medical Center

  • Flora / Florence Art School

  • For the Love of Art / Blue Ridge ArtSpace

  • Holiday Originals / Ashe Country Arts Council

  • Kalidoscope / Ashe County Arts Council

  • Random / Ashe County Arts Council

  • Stay at Home / Ashe County Arts Council

  • Yes*** / Yadkin Arts Council

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2020

  • 41st Northwest Artist's Juried Exhibition** / Wilkes Art Gallery

  • Anything Goes / Ashe County Arts Council​

  • Bakers Dozen International Collage Exchange / International Museum of Collage (IMAC) 

  • Best of the Blue Ridge* ** / Ashe County Arts Council

  • Juried Exhibit** / Yadkin Arts Council

  • Suffrage Exhibit / Hickory Art Museum

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2019

  • 40th Northwest Artist's Juried Exhibition** / Wilkes Art Gallery

  • Anything Goes / Ashe County Arts Council​

  • April Abstracts / Florence Art School

  • Artist in Residence / Edgewood Cottage

  • Drawing the Line / Florence Art School

  • Faces / Blue Ridge ArtSpace

  • Hanging Spotlight / Blue Ridge ArtSpace

  • Juried Exhibit** / Yadkin Arts Council

  • Self-portraits and Fancies / Ashe County Public Library

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2018

  • 39th Northwest Artist's Juried Exhibition* ** / Wilkes Art Gallery

  • Best of the Blue Ridge** / Ashe County Arts Council

  • Birds, Blossoms, and Bloomin' Art / Ashe County Arts Council

  • Community Artists Exhibit / Turchin Center for the Visual Arts

  • Glue it Down / Watauga County Arts Council

  • Out of the Blue*** / Appalachian Regional Healthcare System Cancer Center

  • Out of the Blue*** / Florence Art School

 

2017

  • 38th Northwest Artist’s Juried Exhibition* ** / Wilkes Art Gallery

  • 7th Annual Tony Show Juried Exhibition** / Yadkin Arts Council  

  • Anything Goes*** / Blue Ridge ArtSpace

  • Best of the Blue Ridge** / Ashe County Arts Council

  • Drawing Exhibition / Blue Ridge ArtSpace

  • Go Figure Solo Show / Ashe County Library

  • Happenstance / Florence Art School

  • Out of the Blue*** / Ashe County Arts Council

  • Trash to Treasures Workshop Exhibit / Turchin Center for the Visual Arts

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2016

  • Best of the Blue Ridge** / Ashe County Arts Council

  • Doors and Windows Exhibition / Ashe County Arts Council

  • Exhibition / Nth Gallery

  • Forest Fantasy Exhibition / Ashe County Arts Council

  • Go Figure Solo Show / Blue Ridge ArtSpace

  • NAL Exhibit* ** / Wilkes Art Gallery

 

2015

  • Best of the Blue Ridge** / Ashe County Arts Council

  • Out of the Blue*** / Blowing Rock Art & History Museum

  • Textures Exhibition / Ashe County Arts Council

 

2014

  • Abstract Obsession Solo Show / Blue Ridge ArtSpace

  • Best of the Blue Ridge** / Ashe County Arts Council

  • Reflections Exhibition / Blue Ridge ArtSpace

  • Second Time Around Exhibition / Ashe County Arts Council

  • Size Matters Exhibition* / Blue Ridge ArtSpace

  • Still Life Exhibition / Ashe County Arts Council

 

2013   

  • Best of the Blue Ridge** / Ashe County Arts Council

  • Introspection / Ashe County Arts Council

 

2012   

  • Anything Under The Sun Exhibition / Ashe County Arts Council

  • It’s Not What You Think Exhibition / Ashe County Arts Council

 

2011   

  • Best of the Blue Ridge** / Ashe County Arts Council

 

2010   

  • Along The Parkway Exhibition / Ashe County Arts Council

  • Best of the Blue Ridge** / Ashe County Arts Council

  • I Hear Music Exhibition / Ashe County Arts Council

 

 

View archived shows 2001-2009 (PDF 17.1KB)

 

*Award Received / **Juried Exhibition / ***Out of the Blue Group Show

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