About the Artist

April Kruse-Mitchell

"Drawing is like making an expressive gesture with the advantage of permanence. " Henri Matisse

I am a self taught artist. 

In 1974 I traveled to Europe for six weeks with the American Institute for Foreign Study, participating in courses on Classical civilization.  I was able to experience the incredible art, sights and sounds of Rome, Florence, the ancient port of Ostia Antica and Tivoli.  I traveled to Athens to see the Acropolis, the Athens Archaeological Museum, and the Kaisariani Monastery.  I also spent several days visiting Paris, Amsterdam and London.  It was an amazing journey and what I experienced there left a lasting impression, especially the works of Michelangelo in the Sistine Chapel.

I began working as an artist at the age of fifteen and for many years focused on graphic design.  In 1991, I determined that I would pursue my passion for painting by doing murals and decorative painting.  I have been successful in this endeavor, and I continue to express my creativity through mural painting and doing commissioned paintings.  

I added a new art form to my repertoire when I became very interested in the fine art of miniatures. It is an elegant art form that has been around for centuries.  I was introduced to it by a client who collected miniatures and when I saw the exacting detail required to complete one of these tiny painting, I became interested in trying my hand at it. I paint in both 1/6th and 1/12th scale.  1/12th is actually doll house scale so if the original Mona Lisa was 30"x 21" I would have to paint it two and one half inches by one and three quarter inches to be at 1/12th scale.

  

The famous Olympic runner Eric Liddell said, "I believe God made me for a purpose, but He also made me fast, and when I run I feel His pleasure."
This is the way I feel about art.  The art itself is not my purpose.....but when I paint....."I feel His pleasure."



Public Mural/Artwork has been painted at the following locations

The Narnia Estate in Lemont, IL   www.thenarniaestate.com
Balagio Risortante, in Homewood, IL
Bogart's  Restaurant, in Homewood, IL and Tinley Park
Sanfratello's Restaurant, in Tinley Park, IL and in Highland, IN
Mr. Benny's Restaurant, in Mokena, IL
The Egg and I Restaurant in Chicago Heights and in Tinley Park
Ciao Restaurant in Chicago Heights and in Palos Hills, IL
Vito and Nick's Ristorante in Frankfort, IL
and The Chicago Dough in New Lenox, IL