About Andi

Artist Statement

For the most part I find artist statements completely ridiculous. They get a little stuffy and sometimes pretentious. Here's the deal- I am one of those people who loves creating. It honestly doesn't matter if it's a mud pie or ultra detailed artwork. Using my hands to create something out of nothing is magical. I'm one of those people that loves the tactile nature of the work. But, if you must have one...

As an artist, I try and bring my past memories and experiences to life. I grew up on the high plains of Kansas where I spent a majority of my time outside in and around nature. My love for animals, both domestic and wild, knows no bounds. My pieces are usually a mixture of moments that I have loved combined with a need for semi-realistic and detailed art.

Most of my work starts begins much before entering the studio. I am extremely methodical about the composition and mediums used and hope that my intentional choices will resonate with you whether it's the story I’m trying to tell or a feeling i'm putting out there. In many cases, my work comes from “home” and I want you to sense that feeling of peace too.

About Andi- the history and process

I suppose my art career really took off, when in second grade, my work was published in the school calendar. When I was 16, I was quickly using up all the class’ art supplies because I was painting too much. My art teacher, in her infinite wisdom, gave me a project which involved paper tearing to slow me down. This is when I began incorporating paper into a majority of my artwork.

It may look effortless, but there is quite a bit of method behind my madness. Although I’ve used many different base materials, I find that working on smooth wood panels works best because it results in a cleaner look. After a refined drawing, I grab my very worn pair of tweezers and always start with the eyes. I figure if I can’t get those right there is no use in continuing. I’m pleased to say I’ve yet to scrap a project! Once they are perfect I move on, usually to the nose, eventually connecting the mosaic like a giant puzzle. The first 10 hours or so are very stressful while I get each piece exactly right. I work my way from extremely detailed- pieces as small as the lead end of a pencil- to quarter size plus. The background is always done last and then once I’m happy, the entire piece gets an acrylic protective topcoat. Generally speaking, I won’t move on until it’s perfect, so that last piece is really exciting to put on!

As a plug for my tweezers- I couldn’t do it without them. They are basically an extension of my fingers and never leave my hand. When working, each piece of paper is torn specifically for its spot. Pieces for the nose and parts of the eye are generally round while hairs are long and skinny. For paper, I use magazines that generally have full pages of pictures, nice thick paper and are rich in their colors. For example, National Geographic is one of my favorites, not only for its color but there are nice wide white margins (I only use whites that are white on both sides to prevent ink transparency). Vogue has a lot of fun colors, such as pink, which is hard to find (as are nice yellows). Ninety percent of the magazines I use are donated.

Recently I’ve been really trying to incorporate more expressiveness and action into my contemporary-ish art. Sometimes it is more evident in the way I layer each paper and other times it’s through the action of the animals being portrayed. I’ve always had this passionate, unexplainable connection to animals, which has been largely influenced by my Kansas farmgirl upbringing. In some ways I feel like my job is to tell each of the animals’ stories in a semi-realistic manner, sharing a slice of their soul.

Artist Biography
Andi Burnum is a paper mosaic artist and illustrator. She got her first picture published in the school calendar in second grade and has been creating ever since. In high school, she was painting nonstop, plowing through all the class’ art supplies. Her art teacher gave her a paper mosaic project to slow her down and boy, did it ever. She immediately fell in love with the process. Andi decided to major in art in college and made it an entire year before deciding that no one could make a living doing studio art and she didn’t want to do graphic design. Pre-med seemed like a nice choice. After a quick detour medical assisting in the orthopedic world, she decided that perhaps this wasn’t creative enough. It seemed logical to start a moderately successful chocolate truffle company, AndiChocolates. Eventually, Andi found herself putting more creative energy into designing the chocolate boxes than the chocolates. After a small natural disaster, she decided to box up the business and move on.

Although she’d been doing mosaics as side projects for years, in 2014 she finally circled around and found herself being fulfilled with creating fine art. Largely self-taught, she’s been refining her paper process over the last 20 years. In 2018 she decided to begin illustrating a page a day, to better her drawing skills. Oddly enough, the chicken scratch illustration work balances out the OCD and slow work of tearing paper.

Andi presently lives in Colorado but her heart is in the open skies of Kansas- home of her family farm and major artistic inspiration. Only a few hours from Evergreen, she’s “employed” as a part time farm hand on the much loved family farm and heads back whenever she gets a chance. While there and when she’s supposed to be working, she’s often found getting in trouble for taking pictures of cows during critical times, such as when bulls are fighting. Andi’s expressive mosaics have been exhibited in numerous shows, receiving high accolades. She has recently begun illustrating for commercial projects as well as dabbling in the overwhelming world of picture books.

Selected Juried Shows:

40th Annual All Colorado Art Show, Greenwood Village, CO, Dariya Bryant juror, 2023
Big Draw Colorado, Arvada Center for the Arts, Arvada, CO, 2023
Western Spirit Juried Show & Sale, Cheyenne, WY, 2023
New Horizons Juried Show & Sale, Cheyenne, WY, 2022
"Flora & Fauna" Vernon Filley Art Museum, Pratt, KS 2022-23
Western Spirit Juried Show and Sale, Cheyenne, WY 2022
Lone Tree Commissioner's Choice, Lone Tree, CO, 2022
Lone Tree Art Expo, Lone Tree, CO 2021
"Love Is" Center for the Arts, Evergreen, CO June 2021
"Animals & Vegetables" Dallas Metro Arts Contemporary, Dallas, TX March 2021
Western Spirit Juried Show and Sale, Cheyenne, WY 2021
Juried Member's Show Foothills Art Center, Golden CO 2021
90th Annual Juried Competition National Art League NY, James LaMantia judge, 2020
36th Annual Juried Exhibit National Collage Society 2020
2020 Botanical Show, Las Laguna Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA
The 2020 National Fine Art Show, Lincoln Gallery, Loveland, CO
Western National Juried Exhibition, Dallas, TX, 2020 Ann Zembala, Pearce Collections Museum Director juror
Gilpin Arts 73rd Annual Juried Art Show, Central City CO 2020, Virginia Unsled judge
Lone Tree Art Expo, Lone Tree, CO, 2019, Colleen Fanning juror
Lincoln Gallery 2019 Regional Fine Art Show, Loveland, CO 2019
Stanton Art Gallery at Town Hall Theatre Littleton, CO 2019
Member's Show- Center for the Arts Evergreen, CO 2019
Open Studio Show Foothills Art Center 2018
Foothills Member Show, Golden, CO 2018
Amuse Yeax Golden, CO 2018
Colorado Mosaic Show Belmar Arts Center, Lakewood, CO

Selected Solo Shows:
Solo Show 547 Gallery, Greensburg, KS 2022
Solo Show Quincy Art Gallery, St. Francis, KS 2018

Selected Group Shows:
"Syncopation" at SYNC Gallery, Denver, CO 2023
Member's Show, Foothills Art Center, Golden, CO 2023
"Syncopation" at SYNC Gallery, Denver, CO 2022
Member's show, Foothills Art Center, Golden, CO 2022
Member's Show, Center for the Arts, Evergreen, CO, 2021
"Syncopation" at SYNC Gallery, Denver, CO Feb-March 2021
Evergreen Open Door Studio Tour 2020
Salon Show, Foothills Art Center 2020
Center for the Arts Evergreen Buchanan Satellite Location, Evergreen, CO 2019
Open Studio Show -- Foothills Art Center, Golden, CO 2019

Selected Awards:
3rd Place Overall, New Horizons Juried show, 2022
1st Place Mixed Media Western Spirit Juried show, 2022
Best of Show, "Bella Bean," 2022
1st Place Mixed Media Gloria Has Something to Say 2021
Honorable Mention 2D, "Two Ton Dance" 2020
1st Place Mixed Media Gentle Ben 2019
Best of Show "Gretta Jean"
"Judge's Merit" Curtis Art Gallery, Littleton, CO

Collections
Found in private collections both locally and internationally

Public Art:
Mountain Animals Triptych, United Airlines Lounge, Denver International Airport, 2023
Porcupine, Mtn. Goat & Bison on furniture. "The Eddy" Restaurant & Hotel, Golden, CO 2021
"Home on the Range" 4x4' Acrylic, Larimer Squre Denver, CO 2021
"Cool as a Cactus," mosiac art place on electric box 12th & Washington, Golden, CO 2020

Education
Concentration in illustration, Kansas State University 2002

Representation
Stoneheart Gallery, Evergreen, CO current
Contributing Artist at SYNC Gallery, Denver 2020-current

Other Art Activities
Art Contributor to:
Center for the Arts Evergreen 120 for $120
Foothills Art Center Gala Fundraiser
Bergen Park Middle School
Gilpin County Artist Association
Kansas State Alumni Association

Strengths
Paper Mosaic Artist
Works on Paper- Pen & Watercolor illustration
Acrylic Painting
Procreate digital illustration

Professional Development
Art Composition with John Pasarro
Art Career coaching with Kathy Beekman
SCBWI conferences- Spring 2019, Lines & Letters RMC Conference 2019
Six Month illustration mentorship with Kaz Windness
Drawing Classes, Art Students League, Denver

Other Professional Experience
Graphic Designer for chocolate boxes and chocolates
Faux Finishing, Fresh Paint, Lakewood, CO, employee

Affiliations:
Foothills Art Center, Golden, CO 2006-Present
Evergreen Center for the Arts, Evergreen, CO 2014-Present
Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, Rocky Mountain Affiliation, 2017-Present

Publications:
"Your Mountain Connection", Full Front Page Photo, Photo Page, p21. March 2023
Colorado "Serenity" Magazine, Artist Interview, Photos, p. 44, October 2022
Canion Courier, Your Mountain Connection, Newspaper, Photos, p. 28 March 2021
Canion Courier, Newspaper, Article & Image, September 23, 2020 page 6
Center for the Arts Evergreen, Newsletter, Featured Artist, July 8, 2020
Foothills Art Center, Blog, "Inside an Artist's Studio," June 15, 2020
Loveland Reporter-Herald, Newspaper, Arts Section, Image, October 2019
Rawlins County Square Deal, Newspaper, by Jess Mews, Image, November 19, 2018

Presentations:
St. Mary's Academy, Mosaic Artist Presenter for 6th graders, Centennial, CO 2014
Bird City High School, Paper Mosaic & Illustration Presented to Freshman - Senior Art Students, Bird City, KS 2019
Morning StArt Program, Golden, CO 2020