Dionna Raedeke (Artist, Singer, Mother of Gramm)

What should you listen to while reading this Mother Art Story?

Music: Joni Mitchell, Leslie Odom Jr., Rhye, Zero 7

The Family

Dionna shares her thoughtfully designed home with husband, Daniel, an art teacher at Ladue High School and their son Gramm, who attends Ladue High. Currently, Gramm and Dionna are at home together, making art and Zoom schooling while Daniel heads in to teach remotely from his classroom. Dionna and Daniel, both artists, have separate studios in the lower portion of their split level home. It was nothing shy of a treat to see how this double-artist household operates! When I asked her how she felt about navigating remote learning and art making this year, she said “Gramm is a really self-motivated learner, so I don’t need to check up on him every hour. We’ve been lucky that way. But I do find I sometimes need everyone to just get out of the house for a second so I can work alone!” Any working Mother can relate to this sentiment in 2020, but it’s a reminder that for working Mother Artists, our Art IS our work! Her black cat, Freddie (named after Freddie Mercury) was also present for our little chat. At some point, a groundhog popped in for a bit on their back patio. I learned his name is Gerald and he’s a frequent guest at the Raedeke residence!

Upstairs at the Raedeke Residence

The Early Life

Born and raised in Edwardsville, IL by her mother and grandmother, Dionna was introduced to Art making and creative expression at a very young age. Her Mother worked and it was her grandmother who signed her up for various art classes and clubs offered through SIU Edwardsville. “Growing up in Edwardsville, we had SIUE at our fingertips. The Wagner Art complex was off campus, and in the middle of town, and literally just a few blocks away from my home”. She later attended SIUE where she studied ceramics and printmaking. Initially, her thought was to move to Chicago to finish school, but was drawn to her program and rich artistic community right there in Edwardsville! She and a colleague started the Edwardsville Alton Studio Tours, which helped bring artists in the area together. Eventually, this morphed into the formation of the Edwardsville Arts Center, which in non-Covid times you can visit today! “Community in the art world is extremely important to me.” (More on that below!)

Prior to totally committing to the full-time Artist life, Dionna worked in real estate and art consultation. She would purchase and commission art for major corporations. “In 2011 I made a decision to work only for myself. I don’t regret any of my time working for other people, because I learned so much, but it’s been incredibly fulfilling to be solely in charge of my day to day life. To be able to choose my path, try different things, pivot, alter, edit as needed. It’s an organic way for me to be in the world, especially as an artist, and I am BLESSED to have a partner that supports me 1000%.”

The Art

First and foremost, let’s talk about this woman’s incredible home studio! After moving into their split level home in 2013, she realized she and her husband could not effectively share studio space. So, the downstairs den was turned into a studio all her own. “My studio is my sanctuary- it’s my happy place where I can crank up the music and paint, and I love it so much and feel immense gratitude to have a space to call my own.”

“My studio is my sanctuary.”

Track lighting, retro linoleum floor (hello easy clean up!) and a great big sliding glass door makes her space super functional. She has neatly placed trinkets and whimsical collectibles adorning her modern fireplace, which sits squarely at the head of her work space. She also displays her calendars, cards and other paper goods. Her white walls are adorned with her signature candy-colored work. Think poppy red, lush floral greens, sunny yellows, decadent purples of all shades. To say her space is “happy” would be a gross generalization. “I am really inspired by spring and the colors that I start seeing around that time of year.” Perhaps the fact that her birthday is on the first day of Spring sheds a little light on her tendency to a colorful, almost hopeful palette?

“I think alternative materials add a tactile, almost juicy quality.”

In addition to the rejuvenated will to live that we all experience in Spring, Dionna relies on her ears to help guide her work. She is heavily inspired by music and creates by harnessing the power of synesthesia, which is a graphic response to sound. “I thought everyone did this until about 12 years ago, when after an eye exam of all things, I was hearing loud sound waves when my doctor shined a light into my eyes. He started asking me questions like- do you ever see color when you hear sound? Um, Yes….doesn’t everyone?” It’s clear from looking at her work that she’s not listening to a lot of Metallica or Iron Maiden, but rather the ooey gooey, cozy croons of Joni Mitchell and Rhye. (Check the “what you should listen to” section above for more info!) “I like to listen to music that is soothing and relaxing. That’s how I want to feel when I paint.” It came as no surprise to learn that Dionna dabbles in music and singing. You can learn more about her second passion on her Facebook page!

To make her work, Dionna just goes to town. “I never plan or sketch out what I am going to do. I sometimes just throw paint directly onto my surface!” Her intuition and confidence are key to her style. She spoke of even taking one of her throw-away palettes and smearing the remains directly onto her canvas. I asked her about one painting on her wall that I perceived, based on her other work, to be unfinished. “I will probably cover that entire thing up. You won’t see anything you see now once I’m done.” I LOVE her brazen, uncomplicated way of thinking about the journey her paintings might take. She likes to experiment with non-traditional fine art materials like fabric markers, craft paint pens and nail polish, to name a few. It reminded me that there is no prescription for Art making. Truly, anything goes and I find that the subtle differences in chosen materials can make a HUGE difference. Dionna agrees. “I think alternative materials add a tactile, almost juicy quality.”

When there isn’t a global pandemic to contend with, she hosts workshops in her studio for other artists or those who are interested in Art making. “My favorite are the older folks who have worked corporate jobs for years, only to find they are curious about their own creativity.” It’s important that her workshops be a “safe space” where curious artists can come make their Art without fear of judgement or a feeling that they don’t belong. “I can be extroverted, but I don’t know if I would go to someone’s house for an artists workshop! I always tell them that even showing up is a big deal.”

“Community in the Art world is extremely important to me.”

Dionna takes a more proactive approach to selling her art, but admits she prefers to focus on the art making as opposed to the business side of things. “I just want to make art!” Each December, she would typically host a Studio Sale in her home where she sells calendars, ornaments, paper goods and other works. This year will look different, so be sure to check out her website and Instagram for more information soon! She uses third party sellers to help get reproducible works out into the world. “They have the images and handle everything. Shipping, framing, payments. Everything.” For original pieces and paintings, she will ship directly to you all on her own. She claims she hasn’t always been this proactive and credits her art-selling savviness to Meg Smidt, her creative business coach. “She told me last winter ‘you need a website!’ which I had put off for nearly 15 years!” Again, she’s always been more about the making of Art rather than the selling, but she’s starting to see the value of promoting her work. You can find out more about Meg here. AGAIN, supreme reminder that for many Mother Artists, this is their job. How cool and inspiring is that?

I think we often think of Artists as reclusive, anti-social weirdoes content with honing in on their pretentious eccentricies to create Art. Dionna seems to exist to combat that stale preconceived notion. She is warm, conversational and deeply motivated by the idea that anyone can be an artist. It makes me wonder “Is this a uniquely Mother Artist trait?” As I get to know more people like Dionna, I am more convinced that there is something quite special about being a Mother Artist.

Thank you, Dionna, for sharing your spirit and craft!