"Nawrocki Rocks Art" - artwork by Susa and Thomas Nawrocki

Susa Nawrocki is a resident of Columbus Mississippi since 1970. She received a BA Degree from Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa in 1964 and a MSA Degree in drawing and painting from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 1965. Susa is the former reference librarian at the Columbus-Lowndes County Library. Her work has appeared in over fifty state, regional, and national art competitions including: The Oklahoma Art Center, St. Johns University, Ball State University, University of Wisconson - Madison, Davidson College, Brooks Memorial Art Center - Memphis, Appalachian State University, Del Mar College, and many others. Nawrocki's husbad Thomas, (MFA 1967, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee,) is a retired Professor of Printmaking and Fiber Arts at Mississippi University for Women, daughter Dr. Selena is Professor and Director of Interior Design at Valdosta State University if Georgia and son Dr. Steffan is the Director of Translational Medical Oncology at the University of Arizona Cancer Center, Tucson, Arizona.

Land Form Graphite Drawing Statement

Realism in the form of land forms has been explored while documenting the environment in and around Columbus, Mississippi. Landscape images have been studied in a series of 22"x30" and 30"x40" graphite drawings. Objects, as they exist in nature, establish the starting point for my statements. I place great emphasis on edge and a strong, visually designed positive structure. My concern is with design elements that occur within nature. A rhythmical balance between positive and negative shapes in a bleed-off composition has been created with soft, textured graphite tone.

Graphite and kneaded eraser are used on Arches Cover white paper to create a delicately textured, singular tonal affect. The kneaded eraser pushes the graphite into the tooth of the paper to refine and define a particular shape. Each drawing contains a carefully controlled and constant value depending upon the layers of graphite applied to the working surface. As each segment is completed, an even, soft-edged shape is conceived. I work to create an even vaster, more immense world beyond the deckle of the paper. Therefore, I use no mat to block the eye's movement from flowing beyond the confines of the paper's edge.

Images utilizing this drawing technique have been created with an expanded vision to incorporate a varied horizon separating land-sky elements. I continue to explore varied compositions inspired by local vegetation.

Solitaire Graphite Drawing Statement

Solitaire is a continuing series of graphite pencil drawings. The statements are structured with emphasis on design elements that occur in nature. My primary concern is with the interaction of planes and sensitive value blends within each shape. The subtle tonal progression creates an expansion and contraction of each form giving it an individual identity as it reacts to adjacent elements, creating the total composition. A rhythmical balance between positive and negative shapes in a bleed-off image has been crafted with a soft, textured graphite tone. An Ebony pencil and kneaded eraser are the key materials stroked on Arches Cover white paper to create a delicately textured, a-chromatic blend effect. The kneaded eraser pushes the graphite into the tooth of the paper to refine and define a particular shape. Each feature within the drawing contains a carefully controlled value blend, archived by the slow build-up of layers of graphite applied to the working surface. These images are abstract in their initial creation. I invite the viewer to find subtle forms of nature hidden within each composition. Individual interpretation is encouraged.

Shadow Light Graphite Drawing Statement

For me imagination has no master and through complete self-absorption, images emerge from my subconscious depths. Void of pure color and symbolic form, my creative potential seems limitless. Ideas are expressed from emotion and individual feelings which give my images a spontaneous, almost calligraphic appearance.

I am currently working on a continuing series of graphite drawings entitled "Shadow Light." Patterns occurring in nature with variations of sky images influence my work. These statements emphasize design elements that occur naturally in our environment. My concern is with the interaction of shapes and sensitive textures within the positive space as seen against the darker contours.

A rhythmical balance, between positive and negative shapes in a bleed-off composition, has been created. Powdered graphite and charcoal are applied with a stump of Arches Cover white paper to create a strong contrast between silhouetted contour images. The stump pushes the graphite and charcoal into the tooth of the paper to refine and define a particular form.

Thomas Nawrocki received a BFA (1964,) MA (1966), and MFA (1967) degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. He has taught in Texas and Mississippi. Nawrocki is a retired Professor of Printmaking and Fiber Arts-Weaving at Mississippi University for Women. He was selected the 2006 Visual Artist of the Year by the Mississippi Institute of Arts and Letters. Professor Nawrocki is the Treasurer of Kappa Pi International Honorary Art Fraternity and the former Director of the Mississippi Collegiate Art Competition. His works have appeared in over 500 state, regional, national, and international art competitions including: The Milwaukee Art Center, American Color Print Society, Los Angeles Printmaking Society, Pratt Graphic Art Center in New York, Wisconsin Salon of Art - Madison, Society of American Graphic Artists - New York, The Print Club - Philadelphia, Northwest Printmakers, Color Print USA, Honolulu Academy of Arts, The Graphics Society, Boston Printmakers, plus shows in Korea, Poland, Netherlands, Japan, Brazil, India, Germany, and The Czech Republic and many others. Nawrocki's wife, Susa (MSA 1965) University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee, was the former Reference Librarian at the Columbus-Lowndes Library, daughter Dr. Selena is Professor and Director of Interior Design at Valdosta State University if Georgia and son Dr. Steffan is the Director of Translational Medical Oncology at the University of Arizona Cancer Center, Tucson, Arizona.