MariJayn Duchene BFA, 1144 Ottawa Avenue, Saint Paul, Minnesota, 55118-2008
E-mail: OpusArts@AOL.com • MariJayn Duchene@AOL.com• 651 457 4376 - 11/15/02

I will start with my current goals and needs as an artist currently working with traditional and digital animation, illustration incorporating graphic novels:

• GOALS: development of characters for the Gamelon Tales series of children’ stories.
• SPECIAL NEEDS: digital video camera and Adobe Premier, a computer program to edit and create digital movies. It is impossible to do this development without this equipment.
  

Some history about myself and my life experience, that contributes to making me what I am today as a person and as an artist is:

• In the junior year of college, Minneapolis College of Art and Design (majoring in Painting and Printmaking) I studied abroad in Holland, and returned to Europe after graduation, in 1969 to pursue my art career, as I had made many beneficial contacts in Europe in 1967 and 68. The exposure to the classical art available in European museums and churches was an invaluable experience.
• Consequently I returned to and lived in Europe, mainly London, England, from 19769 through 1986, returning to Minnesota often and periodically to visit my mother and friends. In early 1986, I returned to Minnesota when my mother became terminally ill, in what became a permanent move.
• While abroad also expanded into many types of commercial art, additional to gallery showing of painting and fine art constructions and installations, from 1972 through 1986, and my client list included Revlon International, as their portrait artist. See current portrait site as part of redevelopment business endeavors.
• Since 1986, as a result of my mother’s and my experiences, relevant to the circumstances around her death, I developed an interest in medical social aspects of life quality for the disabled, low income and elderly. I had also developed Post Traumatic Stress Disorder consequent to those matters, which involved extensive loss for me, including my studio and all of my portfolio and art work. Pursuing this interest in disabilities, by 1992, I formally started Diabetics/Disabled Anonymous, Non Profit Support Group and Alliance, through which I and others have the opportunity to volunteer to assist others with disabilities as a advocate, who are low income or are elderly in various ways. See the web site at: http://www.DDAexchange.org

Since 1998 I have been redeveloping my art career and recreating portfolios lost in the course of the complications surrounding my mothers death. In this time I have learned to work with digital media for animation. I am currently focusing on graphic and web design, portraiture and children’s stories, primarily the Gamelon Tales series, and I intend to revive the fine art aspect of my career soon, using mixed media, inclusive video. There has been considerable interest in my illustration and character development, from prospective clients.

Fortunately my business received a Sumasil Foundation grant for the purchase of a Apple G4 notebook, earlier this year, which is partial provision of the technology I need.