South Dakota - Artist: Jamie "Goose" Voigt has been actively painting since 2005.  What began with a single attempt at painting just "one picture" has quickly become a busy business of producing over 50 pieces of work per year.  By trial and error of Experimentation I have began to learn the craft, the use of different equipment and supplies and the techniques from which each artist I have met has helped me continue to learn and grow as a new artist to the South Dakota community of Arts. South Dakota is quickly becoming a thriving State of new and emerging artists and I am lucky to live in a community and state which strongly supports the Arts.

 Voigt grew up in Mitchell, South Dakota and was lucky that Mitchell's  public schools system hired talented art teachers  that would  impacted his life - even though it was 20 years after taking their classes.  Calvin Schultz encouraged Voigt  to paint a picture, as if he was telling a story and when Voigt began to paint in 2005 he recalled, his words of wisdom and whit.  "Just paint them a story".  Calvin Schultz was the first artist/teacher that challenged Voigt, and was a very accomplished artist that designed the murals for the Corn Palace for many years, before passing away.  Don Durfee another Mitchell Public School teacher was also very encouraging back in High School and suggested pursuing Art in College.  After graduating from Mitchell, Voigt attended Northern State College in Aberdeen, where he lived for over 25 years living just a stone's throw from the campus and a wonderful Art Program at the University, right in his backyard. Voigt's formal training ended with Schultz and Durfee, but for me that was enough to begin this hobby.  Voigt currently lives in Sioux Falls, South Dakota in the Historic Harvester Building and works as the Director of Showroom Operations at Showplace Wood Products.

"A Style -Developing Picture by Picture"

I can best describe my style as developing between part contemporary realism with hints of abstract when I am painting scenes of the tropics.  I tend to drift between the traditional style of using light reflecting off the ocean and short brush strokes to capture the energy of the water.  My goal in a tropical scene is to take you along with me to a place of sand, sun and sea - relaxing in a place we'd all rather be. 

While remembering that my roots are in the Midwest, while painting South Dakota rural settings and capturing the wonderfully abundant wildlife found everywhere in our rural state - many of my pictures are done in a more natural and darker tones that can capture of my two favorite seasons of Fall and early winter.

"The Picture it all Began With" 

            
"Your Other Right" 2005

I have been quite busy since this first picture completed in 2005, and have since painted over 135 pictures in just those first 3 years.  While my skills are still developing -I am searching for that unique original style of my own.  I hope you stop by and visit my working studio or visit on the Web the Goose Pit Art Shoppe and enjoy my pictures, as much as I have enjoyed this exciting, creative experimentation.

 Early drawing from 1979 and Painting from 1982