Woodbridge teacher named 'Artist of the Season' Teacher/painter adds another accolade BY JESSICA ALFREY Correspondent "Planet Hope" EDISON - After a stressful day at work, happy hour at the local dive bar might sound pretty good. But for Lois Nagy-Hartnack, painting is a better choice. Hartnack, a Woodbridge native and full- time teacher, was recently named the Edison Arts Society's Summer 2007 "Artist of the Season." Hartnack, 57, graduated from Wagner College in Staten Island, N.Y., in 1971 with a bachelor's degree in art education; she then received a master of arts degree in education with an emphasis in painting in 1977 from Kean University in Union, New Jersey. Hartnack said she has loved art from a young age and knew it was what she wanted to pursue. "I've loved drawing since the second grade; all I would be doing was drawing and coloring," said Hartnack. Despite her love for art, Hartnack did not really start painting until later in life. "I painted when I went for graduate school, but I painted in a surrealistic style, kind of like Georgia O'Keeffe back then," said Hartnack. After graduate school, Hartnack had less and less time to paint her own work. It wasn't until her divorce in the mid-1990s when her daughters, now both in their 20s, had grown and did not need as much attention, that she could focus on it more. The painting was also, in a way, a form of therapy for Hartnack, who believes strongly that everyone needs a creative outlet, whether it is painting, singing or sports. Hartnack chose to take that sentiment and tackle something a bit different in 2003 when she graduated from Caldwell College and received a master's in counseling psychology with a specialization in art therapy. Art therapy may seem like an odd thing to pursue, but Hartnack had her interest piqued in previous sand tray courses. According to Hartnack, sand tray is when "you construct and build things, kind of like artifacts that represent different things and you end up putting these into a big setting, along with whatever else," said Hartnack. "Then you talk about the world you're building; it brings up issues that people have." All the while, Hartnack has been teaching. For the past 35 years she has worked throughout Woodbridge Township with the past 10 or so at Iselin Middle School. "I love it there because it is a very multicultural area - you get every kind of nationality there," said Hartnack. "They have more creativity because I don't feel they're as stifled like kids who've grown up in the U.S. - they've experienced more." Art therapy is not something that needs an office to take place; Hartnack said her students do it practically every day. "What the students build and make they have no idea in their subconscious why they're building what they make," said Hartnack. To have the students talk about their work to others would be more of clinical approach, so Hartnack stays away from it. But just the act of making art is more of a "relaxation type of thing." Though she said she would eventually like to pursue art therapy. "If I have enough years to live once I leave teaching," said Hartnack, "I would open a practice with someone else and do therapy." Hartnack also expressed interests in working with war veterans when they come back from Iraq. While she is not educating young minds, Hartnack works on her painting. She keeps one piece of art at school that she works on during lunches and in the mornings and another at home. Hartnack joined the EAS about three years ago and stood out to executive director, Nina Hand. "She stepped right up to the plate and wanted to become active with us," said Hand. "I really admire that. A lot of our members are retired, but she is working and still finds the time." Hartnack describes her painting as "representational in composition, with emphasis on detail and texture, yet sometimes incorporating an impressionistic flair. The genre usually centers on nature, and demonstrates a narrative quality, that leaves the viewer with questions as to the ending scenario." "What I usually do," said Hartnack, "is I'll take a couple of photos or a photo that really catches my eye, and I'll try to change it somewhat. I'll do a little bit of research about what kinds of animals could live there." Hartnack is unique not only in her inspiration, but the size of her work as well; her nature scenes are far from your average wall hanging. "I'm happiest painting 4 feet up by 3 feet across," said Hartnack. "I want it so you could almost walk into the painting." Due to the size, a painting at school could take seven months to complete, while one being worked on at home might take three or four. Her work also uses lots of texture - whether it is in the bark on a tree or in the water - and utilizes lights and shadows. Hartnack found out about the Edison Arts Society honoring her right after knee surgery and was delighted. The joy she gets from activities outside work are ones that she feels are important to every person. "You're not always going to get credit from where you work, you have to go elsewhere to get it," said Hartnack. "You can't sit back relying on someone saying you did a good job, you have to go out and make yourself happy other ways." With a long-term teaching career, a rising art career and established family, there does not seem to be many areas left for Hartnack to conquer. She remembered a time when several of her art students won contests, said Hartnack. "The principal said to me, 'So where else is there to go? You've done it all.' You know what, I probably have," she said. "The best thing I can hope for is to maintain. It's a good place to be right here." "Planet Hope," Hartnack's piece for the EAS, will be on display until October at the Sheraton-Edison Hotel at 125 Raritan Center Parkway.