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Junior Studio Art major Ruby Warner, originally from Marysville, OH, produced the card art for this year's holiday card.

Studio Art Major Designs Annual Holiday Card

December 17, 2024


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MACOMB, IL - - Each year, the °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²ÊÀúÊ·¼Ç¼ Foundation partners with the Department of Art and Design to create its annual holiday greeting card for donors and friends of the university. This yearly tradition provides a °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²ÊÀúÊ·¼Ç¼ student the opportunity to showcase their artistic abilities and shine a spotlight on a special campus scene.

For 2024, junior Studio Art major Ruby Warner, originally from Marysville, OH, produced the card art, creating a wintery scene featuring Lake Ruth using a mixture of watercolor and white gouache paint. Completing this piece was an exciting challenge for Warner.

"I think watercolor painting was my favorite part," Warner said. "Before this project, I had not touched watercolor since high school and did not enjoy the medium but I actually love it now."

Warner chose to attend °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²ÊÀúÊ·¼Ç¼ after being introduced to the institution by two alumni, her high school art teacher and her father.

"I was interested in what °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²ÊÀúÊ·¼Ç¼ had to offer," Warner said. "I took some time off after my junior year. Now that I'm back at °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²ÊÀúÊ·¼Ç¼, I've never felt happier or excited to grow more as an artist."

In addition to creating this year's holiday card, Warner was named a recipient of a spring 2025 talent grant. Her work has been displayed in multiple gallery installations, including the °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²ÊÀúÊ·¼Ç¼ Art Gallery, the Figge Art Museum, the Quincy Art Center, The Hub in Rushville and Jack Olson Gallery at Northern Illinois University. Additionally, she created a mural at a coffee shop in Mt. Sterling.

These opportunities have helped prepare Warner for the next step in her education.

"After graduating from °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²ÊÀúÊ·¼Ç¼, I would love to attend graduate school and maybe teach in the future. Any artist can tell you that the dream is to have your work exhibited in a big gallery and to have your name be well known."

The annual holiday card project not only celebrates the artistic abilities of students like Warner, but also provides a connection point for °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²ÊÀúÊ·¼Ç¼'s generous donors and other friends of the university. Card recipients receive a reminder of the beauty of campus in the winter and receive a first-hand look at the talents of °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²ÊÀúÊ·¼Ç¼ students.

"Ruby beautifully captured and brought to life the peace and spirit of a winter scene at Lake Ruth," °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²ÊÀúÊ·¼Ç¼ President Kristi Mindrup said. "Her vision for this painting shows her connection to our beautiful °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²ÊÀúÊ·¼Ç¼ campus, and is an illustration of the exceptional talent that °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²ÊÀúÊ·¼Ç¼ student artists contribute to our university culture and community."

As the selected artist, Warner received a $500 honorarium from the °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²ÊÀúÊ·¼Ç¼ Foundation. The original piece will be on display in the °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²ÊÀúÊ·¼Ç¼ Advancement Office following the winter campus closure.

For more information on °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²ÊÀúÊ·¼Ç¼'s Art and Design program, visit wiu.edu/art.

Posted By: Drew Donahoo (AM-Donahoo@wiu.edu)
Office of University Communications & Marketing