Tecumseh artist is accepted into Grand Rapids' ArtPrize competition

Pat Ducat Bogusz has spent the last year going in circles, but in a good way. Her experience is an artistic expression of millions of ink pen circles on 12 panels that when mounted together stand around five feet tall.“There’s no pattern,” Bogusz said of the random design of the work.The piece is entitled “Encutum Motus,” which is Latin for “Ink Movement,” and has been accepted into the 2013 ArtPrize competition in Grand Rapids. Bogusz is the only person from Tecumseh participating this year. The open competition is held September 18 through October 6, with monetary prizes awarded by public vote as well as by a jury.Bogusz started her artistic journey 20 years ago when she took two classes at Macomb Community College. Detours through a career in the insurance field and other distractions of life halted in 2008, when Bogusz got back on track with her art. Currently a student of Pam Bacon at the Blue Owl Studio in Brooklyn, Bogusz has been exploring the many aspects of her artistic side.“I’ve been playing and doing what I want to,” she said. “I’m experimenting with various media.”Whether working in graphite, ink, sculpture, or watercolors, Bogusz finds enjoyment in all the different work she does. Her studio illustrates Bogusz’ love of color whether the style is traditional or abstract. She especially loves the versatility and forgiving nature of working in watercolor.One wall of her basement studio features a line of self-portraits that express Bogusz’ different moods. Whimisical and colorful, they are a perfect illustration of her delight in drawing on her own emotions and thoughts.Part of her artistic journey involves study of the methods of famous artists. Bogusz often experiments in her own work with ideas she finds in the work of those she admires. Abstract expression is the most challenging for Bogusz.“I’m not an abstract thinker,” she said. “It’s a constant process.”In her sunroom there is a group of little people sculpted by Bogusz out of clay and accented with found materials of all kinds. It’s the kind of art that Bogusz believes can be created by anyone, regardless of age or talent. “You have to be willing to play,” Bogusz said.As much as she enjoys creating art, Bogusz is an art devotee as well, and makes regular visits to museums and galleries in the area. “I love to go to the Toledo Museum of Art,” she said.A member of the Lenawee Council for Visual Arts, Bogusz has had her work displayed in the LCVA Gallery located inside The Croswell in Adrian. It is another place she enjoys visiting.“It’s fun to see what other people in the community are doing,” said Bogusz.Although she has only been practicing her craft for a relatively short time, people are noticing Bogusz’ talent. She was recently approached by the Art-A-Licious committee to use her drawing of the Maumee Trading Company building on the official 2013 event T-shirts.Originally from Harper Woods, Bogusz and her husband, Larry, moved to Lenawee County from the Detroit area in 1998, and to Tecumseh in 2012. They considered a move to Arizona this year, but after finding an expensive home buyers’ market out West and then discovering their home on Burt Street, the couple decided to stay in the area.“We were really enjoying being in town,” Bogusz said.Finding one’s inner artist is important and easier than people think, Bogusz believes. “Just jump in and do it,” she said. “Don’t stay in your comfort zone. There are no mistakes, there are only opportunities.”