M
Page 8 | Friday, June 17, 2005 Culpeper Star-Exponent | Page 9IN & AROUND
c m y k
Emotionally driven artist
STAFF PHOTOS VINCENT VALA
ABOVE: Mindy Winburn creates
many portraits of people.
LEFT: Winburn stands next to one of her pieces on
display at Another Dimension on East Davis Street.
STAFF PHOTOS VINCENT VALA
ABOVE: This steel sculpture is half skull face, half helmet
with squares of sheet metal stacked in rows over the head.
At back, a metal spine descends from the nape of the neck.
BOTTOM: A sculpture entitled “Blindside” depicts a hunched
over rock star in wire, clutching a microphone in one hand.
The singer is actually a Christian rock star by the name of
Christian Lindskog — led vocalist for the band Blindside.
Mindy Winburn does not fit into any one category
By Allison Brophy Champion
STAFF WRITER
Mindy Winburn, like her art, is hard to pin
down.
The 18-year-old rising sophomore at
Virginia Commonwealth University in
Richmond is serious to the point of shyness.
At the same time, there is a sense of hushed,
but uncontained passion for her art.
Winburn’s art does not fit into any one cat-
egory.
“Basically, it’s whatever my mood is,” she
said. “I don’t have a certain style.”
One stunning pen-and-ink drawing por-
trays a Chinese girl carrying a baby on her
back. Behind them, golden fields seem to
meet up with the sun. Winburn’s inspiration
for this piece — entitled “Labor of Love” —
was a photograph snapped by her grandfa-
ther in Hong Kong.
Several of her works feature faces from
the East, including one of her great grandfa-
ther, a Korean medicine man. Another color-
ful piece in pastel depicts a European street
scene at dusk, lamp lights only recently lit
behind a still blue sky. Faceless figures wan-
der the “Rue des Bouchers” in Winburn’s
depiction of a corner in Belgium, a place she
visited in person.
Then there are her sculptures. Winburn —
a 2004 graduate of Culpeper County High
School — recently discovered steel and solder
as art.
“My new discovery,” she said with a slight
grin. “I wanted to prove that I could do 3-D,”
added Winburn, who said her boyfriend
taught her how to weld.
A sculpture entitled “Blindside” depicts a
hunched over rock star in wire, clutching a
microphone in one hand. The singer is actu-
ally a Christian rock star by the name of
Christian Lindskog — led vocalist for the
band Blindside.
“Hardcore metal,” said Winburn of the
music style. “He’s my favorite singer.”
Another of her steel sculptures is half
skull face, half helmet with squares of sheet
metal stacked in rows over the head. At back,
a metal spine descends from the nape of the
neck.
“That’s my favorite part,” she said of the
spine effect. “Welding is a lot of fun.”
Many of the pieces in Mindy’s extensive
portfolio are portraits, faces captured with
smiles or frowns. Some are intense like the
“Mysterious” girl in scratchboard; others are
playful like “Sisters” in charcoal and chalk.
Winburn’s self-portrait in color pencil is
dark in browns and black, and her expression
is not amused.
“At the time, I was kind of frustrated,” said
Winburn of the self-portrait she created as a
freshman at VCU. “I wasn’t satisfied with it
and had to restart a couple times.”
As with any artist, there are often first,
second and third drafts and so on until the
creation is just right. Mindy has been honing
her artistic ability since childhood.
“Ever since I was old enough to pick up a
pencil, I was drawing,” she said. Winburn has
won several awards for her artwork, includ-
ing first place in the 2003 Virginia School
Board Association Art Contest and Best in
Show in the 2004 Seventh District
Congressional Art Contest, sponsored by
Congressman Eric Cantor.
She is studying communication arts at
VCU, which is one of the top art schools in
the nation, her father, Mark, pointed out.
After college, Winburn said she hopes to pur-
sue a career in which she can visually com-
municate — illustrator, advertising, graphic
design, etc.
Her passion is re-creation.
“Being able to show things in my perspec-
tive,” she said.
Winburn named Rembrandt — the 17th
Century Dutch painter from Amsterdam —
among her influences, noting that she loves
his contrasting colors.
“The dark work,” she said. “I love the
dark.”
At the same time, Winburn prefers pastels
to any other artistic medium.
“You can manipulate them a lot,” she said,
“and the vibrant colors can represent a lot of
things.”
Dark, light. Pen, pastels. Steel and por-
traits.
Somewhat enigmatic like any good artist,
Winburn experiments with it all. She’s not
fitting into anyone’s box.
ALLISON BROPHY CHAMPION
825-0771 ext. 102.
abrophy@starexponent.com
Mindy Winburn
Mindy Winburn, Culpeper
County High School class of
2004, is featured artist of the
month at Another Dimension,
located at 172 E. Davis St.
She will host an artist’s
reception this Saturday after-
noon from 1 to 5 p.m. in the
downtown gift shop/gallery.
Winburn, 18, is studying
communication arts at VCU
and is a talented portrait
artist available for commis-
sion work. For more informa-
tion, check out mindywin-
burn.com or via e-mail at
mindy@mindywinburn.com
“Ever since I was old enough to
pick up a pencil, I was drawing.”
MINDY WINBURN | ARTIST

Center spread layout - artist Mindy Winburn

  • 1.
    M Page 8 |Friday, June 17, 2005 Culpeper Star-Exponent | Page 9IN & AROUND c m y k Emotionally driven artist STAFF PHOTOS VINCENT VALA ABOVE: Mindy Winburn creates many portraits of people. LEFT: Winburn stands next to one of her pieces on display at Another Dimension on East Davis Street. STAFF PHOTOS VINCENT VALA ABOVE: This steel sculpture is half skull face, half helmet with squares of sheet metal stacked in rows over the head. At back, a metal spine descends from the nape of the neck. BOTTOM: A sculpture entitled “Blindside” depicts a hunched over rock star in wire, clutching a microphone in one hand. The singer is actually a Christian rock star by the name of Christian Lindskog — led vocalist for the band Blindside. Mindy Winburn does not fit into any one category By Allison Brophy Champion STAFF WRITER Mindy Winburn, like her art, is hard to pin down. The 18-year-old rising sophomore at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond is serious to the point of shyness. At the same time, there is a sense of hushed, but uncontained passion for her art. Winburn’s art does not fit into any one cat- egory. “Basically, it’s whatever my mood is,” she said. “I don’t have a certain style.” One stunning pen-and-ink drawing por- trays a Chinese girl carrying a baby on her back. Behind them, golden fields seem to meet up with the sun. Winburn’s inspiration for this piece — entitled “Labor of Love” — was a photograph snapped by her grandfa- ther in Hong Kong. Several of her works feature faces from the East, including one of her great grandfa- ther, a Korean medicine man. Another color- ful piece in pastel depicts a European street scene at dusk, lamp lights only recently lit behind a still blue sky. Faceless figures wan- der the “Rue des Bouchers” in Winburn’s depiction of a corner in Belgium, a place she visited in person. Then there are her sculptures. Winburn — a 2004 graduate of Culpeper County High School — recently discovered steel and solder as art. “My new discovery,” she said with a slight grin. “I wanted to prove that I could do 3-D,” added Winburn, who said her boyfriend taught her how to weld. A sculpture entitled “Blindside” depicts a hunched over rock star in wire, clutching a microphone in one hand. The singer is actu- ally a Christian rock star by the name of Christian Lindskog — led vocalist for the band Blindside. “Hardcore metal,” said Winburn of the music style. “He’s my favorite singer.” Another of her steel sculptures is half skull face, half helmet with squares of sheet metal stacked in rows over the head. At back, a metal spine descends from the nape of the neck. “That’s my favorite part,” she said of the spine effect. “Welding is a lot of fun.” Many of the pieces in Mindy’s extensive portfolio are portraits, faces captured with smiles or frowns. Some are intense like the “Mysterious” girl in scratchboard; others are playful like “Sisters” in charcoal and chalk. Winburn’s self-portrait in color pencil is dark in browns and black, and her expression is not amused. “At the time, I was kind of frustrated,” said Winburn of the self-portrait she created as a freshman at VCU. “I wasn’t satisfied with it and had to restart a couple times.” As with any artist, there are often first, second and third drafts and so on until the creation is just right. Mindy has been honing her artistic ability since childhood. “Ever since I was old enough to pick up a pencil, I was drawing,” she said. Winburn has won several awards for her artwork, includ- ing first place in the 2003 Virginia School Board Association Art Contest and Best in Show in the 2004 Seventh District Congressional Art Contest, sponsored by Congressman Eric Cantor. She is studying communication arts at VCU, which is one of the top art schools in the nation, her father, Mark, pointed out. After college, Winburn said she hopes to pur- sue a career in which she can visually com- municate — illustrator, advertising, graphic design, etc. Her passion is re-creation. “Being able to show things in my perspec- tive,” she said. Winburn named Rembrandt — the 17th Century Dutch painter from Amsterdam — among her influences, noting that she loves his contrasting colors. “The dark work,” she said. “I love the dark.” At the same time, Winburn prefers pastels to any other artistic medium. “You can manipulate them a lot,” she said, “and the vibrant colors can represent a lot of things.” Dark, light. Pen, pastels. Steel and por- traits. Somewhat enigmatic like any good artist, Winburn experiments with it all. She’s not fitting into anyone’s box. ALLISON BROPHY CHAMPION 825-0771 ext. 102. abrophy@starexponent.com Mindy Winburn Mindy Winburn, Culpeper County High School class of 2004, is featured artist of the month at Another Dimension, located at 172 E. Davis St. She will host an artist’s reception this Saturday after- noon from 1 to 5 p.m. in the downtown gift shop/gallery. Winburn, 18, is studying communication arts at VCU and is a talented portrait artist available for commis- sion work. For more informa- tion, check out mindywin- burn.com or via e-mail at mindy@mindywinburn.com “Ever since I was old enough to pick up a pencil, I was drawing.” MINDY WINBURN | ARTIST