About

Monica Schwegman is an artist and photographer from Waterford, Pennsylvania. She started her career in art after studying Fashion Design at the University of Cincinnati and Studio Painting at the Kansas City Art Institute. Monica has traveled and lived in many places. Her travels include countries in Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, and South America. Her residences span from Germany to the Midwest, Northeast, and South in the United States. Traveling has given Monica an opportunity to learn and live in different cultures greatly influencing her art.

Monica started exhibiting soon after her formal education. Her shows have included art made in several mediums. She has shown artwork in oils, acrylics, watercolors, collages, and installations. Each body of work is unique from the other. Her current portfolio consists of photographic artworks made with Okawara paper, an involved process using photos, line drawings, water based paints, pencil, and collage materials. Often the photos are not visible in the finished work, but are reflected in the composition through texture and color. 

Matters of the Heart Statement

Pause for a moment to consider the word “heart.” In simplest terms, the heart is the multi-chambered muscular organ

which maintains the circulation of blood. When we explore deeper however, the word “heart” is used to express

emotion: spoken from the heart;” describe the center: “heartland” or “heartwood;” and finally, “heart” is the word

universally rooted in emotion: “with all my heart.”

For all the references to the heart throughout history and literature, we often pay little mind to our heart-our center-as

we abuse it physically and emotionally. It’s just part of being human.

Imagine seeing the heart while experiencing all these emotions. Imagine the color, movement and shape, and the

form of the line.

My intention with this collection of ten hearts is to portray, through line and color, movement and shape, who we are at

the core of our being: a true visual expression of “ the heart of the matter.”

Heart Descriptions

#1 - Gripping Hearts

Hearts in times of stress cling to each other and cannot let go. The orange center in this painting is stretching -

reaching - to grab on to the other heart. Through the use of black lines and subdued colors I hope to evoke a sense

of longing and sadness. The dark blue of knowledge surrounds both hearts, encouraging them to grasp each other.

Notice that this is the only use of black in the sequence and that the colors are the most subdued.

#2 - Opposing Hearts

Hearts can have opposing views and yet continue to get along. The balance between differing viewpoints is visually

represented here by opposite sides of the color wheel. The simplicity suggests that while there is no interaction

between the hearts, there can still be acceptance, balance, and unity.

#3 - Entwining Hearts

Hearts at the beginning of a relationship are vibrant with energy and passion. Observe that the painting is equally

divided, representing the meeting point and balance between hearts who just meet. The twisting and intertwining

lines represent the hearts binding together. The colors are vibrant with joy, energy, and passion that only a new love

creates.

#4 - Opening Hearts

Hearts are not always open to give and to receive love. What does love flowing through the heart look like? The heart

in the center expands into layers of color which represent the gradual opening of the heart. Shifting perspective

reveals the heart contracting to receive love. The soft, organic use of line at the center suggests growth. The bright

yellow heart is symbolic of the happiness that emotionally occurs when a heart ia able to receive and give love.

#5 - Diminishing Hearts

In this painting we see a transformation of a full heart that has been repeatedly hurt and its evolution from full and

embracing to small and guarded. The large red heart, once full of love becomes divided by the dark blue of

knowledge. No longer a heart, and unable to sustain itself, the heart evolves into a circle surrounded by a dark wall.

And the heart that was once filled with love is now consumed with green of jealousy, the purple of cruelty, and the

blue of depression.

#6 - Sensing Hearts

Opposite of Diminishing Heart is the Sensing Heart. Dominate in this painting is the spiral, one of the oldest symbols

on the planet. The yellow spiral of happiness is entering the heart; guiding the heart to connect with the soul. The soul

then connects to the spiritual forces in the universe and the spirit is able to evolve into something greater than itself.

#7 - Working Hearts

Hearts that work together spin in synchronous motion to create a never-ending circle of love. The two abstract hearts

in the center are linked and spinning in unison. The red circle surrounding those hearts is embracing the hearts with

love. Interconnected, like cogs in a machine, the high emotion and energy in this painting symbolize the eternal

nature of love.

#8 - Dividing Hearts

Hearts that were once together and upright topple over and begin to divide. Composed horizontally, we see the

beginning of a heart in the bottom left evolving and dividing toward the top right. Pay special attention to the positive

energy generated by the deliberate choices of color. Dividing hearts are full of transformative power, energy,

happiness, and balance.

#9 - Mending Hearts

We’ve all been hanging by a thread. Mending hearts are hearts that were once broken but are now reunifying. The

blue threads of knowledge and harmony stitch our broken hearts together. Especially strong in this painting is the use

of green: the color of youth, health, and renewal.

#10 - Unifying Hearts

The depiction of the heart we all strive for in our lives. Hearts that are unified explode with vibrant color and energy.

They move in synchronous motion. The harmonious colors and expanding motion create a feeling of positivity and

warmth. Hearts that are unified fill our soul with love.