Artist Profile: Barb Priem

Barb Priem is an established local artist who currently lives on Madison’s Northside. She receives art mentorship at ArtWorking, a local nonprofit ​that provides career development and support for artists and entrepreneurs with developmental disabilities. ​Barb also started a micro-enterprise (Priem’s Dreams) in 2014 devoted to selling her artwork— and continues to be a thriving business owner​​.

As a proud Wisconsin native, she pays homage to the state in through art by altering abstracted landscape-esque mixed media pieces and transforming them into the shape of Wisconsin. These cutouts are then sold to highlight the locations that give her joy, plus inform her creative practice.

1) What else impacts your creative process?

My creative process is informed by what I enjoy doing. I like making pictures of cities I would like to visit and the cities around me. Different things come to my mind, like castles and buildings and landscapes. I put that into my artwork.

I like using many colors, especially silver and gold, because of how it shines in the light. I draw pictures inside of boxes of different things, schools, houses, kids walking around, circles and triangles and various shapes. I draw them because that’s what I like to draw.

Sometimes it isn’t easy and I have to go back and think about it—where I should add more color; which layers should shine more; how to make the colors brighter. I think about the odds and ends, and it goes into my art.

2) What is your favorite medium to work with?

I primarily make mixed media work on paper, using watercolors, colored pencils, ink, marker and pen. I create medium and large-sized work. I also enjoy making one-of-a-kind greeting cards. I hand paint watercolor greeting cards by creating an original art piece on the front of the card for people to send to friends or family members. I am an avid card sender, never missing a holiday or a birthday.

3) Are there projects you are planning to pursue this year?

I have a new line of products based on my original art that I am very excited about! I’ve made coffee cups, face masks and canvas shoulder bags featuring my mixed media paintings. I am so happy people are buying them! I’m looking forward to expanding the products that I make so I can continue making more artwork for people to enjoy.

4) How would you like to see more disabled artists' work showcased in Wisconsin or across the Midwest as a whole?

We need more galleries and arts shows to show off all our hard work. We need to talk to the people who do art, who run the galleries and try to get them to include us. We need them to recognize artists with disabilities—get them to start helping us have more shows and helping us sell art. I enjoy earning money using my art skills. I hope for more opportunities to do so.

*Barb’s original works on paper, greeting cards and Wisconsin cutouts, along with the other products mentioned above, can be purchased via ArtWorking’s online shop. Once COVID-19 precautions have been lifted, her artwork and goods will be available at its retail storefront. Barb also creates accordion books by partnering with ArtWorking mentors to transform long mixed media paper works into folded and bound accordion books. These are currently sold out, but she is considering starting a new line of bound art projects.