Editor’s note: This is the fourth in a series focusing on the artists of the Suring area in honor of Suring’s centennial celebration.s
Audrey Strehlow’s areas of expertise are painting in oil and sketching with pen and ink.
Her talent became apparent early, as she was already doodling with landscape scenes as a child. She enrolled in art classes in high school and, after graduating, took classes at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College.
In the 1970s, Betty Rae Turner, of Kelly Lake, taught painting classes, which Strehlow enjoyed and used to honed her skills.
Strehlow uses mechanical pencils for sketching, giving her the option to change her mind and erase. When she is satisfied with her drawing, she traces it with black ink.
When working with color, Strehlow uses oil paint rather than water-based paint. Although oil paint takes longer to dry, wet paint can be painted into wet paint without having to wait for each application to dry.
Favorite subjects for Strehlow are rural, pastoral landscapes and farm scenes reminiscent of the area’s rural heritage, incorporating horse-drawn buggies, windmills, farm buildings and equipment of days gone by. Deer, birds and flowers also appear in her work.
Surfaces used by Strehlow are old saws, vases, rocks, bottles, clear glass Christmas bulbs and canvas.
Another Slice of Suring artist, Jenny Buhrandt, received a collection of Christmas bulbs painted in miniature winter scenes, including tiny birds, done by Strehlow. The paintings are as exact as they are exquisite and are beautifully displayed on a metal tree during the Christmas season.
Strehlow worked at Pat Broetzman’s antique and craft shop in Hickory for many years. During that time her art was displayed and sold at the store. She also shares her art work with family and friends.
The program covers for the Suring Sportsman’s Club annual banquet have been designed and sketched by Strehlow for many years. She designed the centennial signs at the east and west ends of Suring and painted them with Mavis Suring and Mae Adams.
Strehlow said she finds her talent for painting to be relaxing, yet challenging and frustrating. Her tip to aspiring artists is to enjoy their God-given talent and not be afraid to paint.
During the winter months, several artists meet at 9 a.m. Mondays at the Suring Fire Station to paint, share their talent and give each other inspiration. They bring their own easel and supplies. If interested, contact one of the artists in this series.
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