University News

2016 Foundation Holiday Card Designed by WIU Studio Art Major

December 6, 2016

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MACOMB, IL -- The holiday season has arrived, which finds many of us scrambling to put up decorations, cook family dinners, shop for the perfect presents and mail holiday cards. To complete the latter, the Western Illinois University Foundation enlisted the talents of studio art major Abbigale Matlick.

Matlick, a junior from Reynolds, IL, was selected to design the 2016 Foundation holiday card. She was given the task with only two specific directions: create a free-hand piece of art and make Sherman Hall the focus. The end result is an original watercolor painting of Sherman Hall set in a winter scene. Thanks to images from WIU's Visual Production Center, a photograph was transformed into the watercolor for this year's Foundation card.

Matlick is also a member of Kappa Pi honorary art society and Phi Sigma Sigma sorority. She has received both the talent grant and a tuition waiver from the WIU Art Department.

"I feel absolutely honored to be selected as the face behind creating this holiday card for the Foundation, and to present to those around me Western Illinois University's most iconic building," she said.

While working to finish her degree at Western, Matlick wants to keep creating works of art and inspire others. After graduation, she hopes to earn her master's degree and ultimately become a renowned artist with her own studio. On the side, she would also like to teach art at the college level.

"The holidays are always a special time of the year for many, and we like to take the opportunity to wish our friends a happy holidays. We are so pleased with Abbigale's holiday design. It is exactly what we wanted to share with our friends. She did a wonderful job and is the perfect example of the many talented students we are fortunate to have at WIU," said Brad Bainter, vice president for advancement and public services.

The original piece can be viewed in the Foundation Office, Sherman Hall 303.

Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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