| About Mildred Ponzio |
Mildred Ponzio studied color and design
with Joakim Loeber, a world famous
muralist. She mastered printmaking under
the instruction of Seymour Lansman at
the Newark Museum. Her continuing
education included instructions under the
noted watercolorists Frank Webb, Carl
Burger, Robert Hyer and Beverly
Golombesky. Mildred's painting entitled
“Flower Piece” was exhibited at the
Library of Congress and Smithsonian
Institute of Fine Art, Washington, D.C.
She has participated in a group show in
Coburg, Germany, three-women shows at
the Silo in Morris Plains, N .J. Other
venues include The Ocean County Library
in Manchester, New Jersey, and a solo
show at Swain's Art Gallery Plainfield,
N.J.
While Mildred's pace has slowed a bit, she
is not about to retire. Her paintings are
still showing up in local shows. She
participated in the Shamrock Gardens
exhibit, Manchester in the summer of
2009. At the time of this writing, her most
recent works are The Red Mill and Indian
Summer which have been added to her
updated gallery.
The parents of Mildred Ponzio migrated
to the United States at the turn of the
Twentieth Century. They settled in
Elizabeth, New Jersey, an area which
must have reminded them of their roots
outside Naples, Italy. Their family soon
included six children. Mildred was the
only one of the children to finish high
school. These were days when children
had to work to help support the family.
Mildred's mother was a fine seamstress
who helped to supplement the family's
income. Mildred fondly remembers the
beautiful dresses and warm coats sewn
for her by her mother. As far back as
Mildred can remember, she had always
enjoyed capturing images on paper. She
attended Batten High School in Elizabeth,
New Jersey. Her sketches attracted the
attention of fellow students so much, that
she was always being asked by teachers
to illustrate the their notes on the
with Joakim Loeber, a world famous
muralist. She mastered printmaking under
the instruction of Seymour Lansman at
the Newark Museum. Her continuing
education included instructions under the
noted watercolorists Frank Webb, Carl
Burger, Robert Hyer and Beverly
Golombesky. Mildred's painting entitled
“Flower Piece” was exhibited at the
Library of Congress and Smithsonian
Institute of Fine Art, Washington, D.C.
She has participated in a group show in
Coburg, Germany, three-women shows at
the Silo in Morris Plains, N .J. Other
venues include The Ocean County Library
in Manchester, New Jersey, and a solo
show at Swain's Art Gallery Plainfield,
N.J.
While Mildred's pace has slowed a bit, she
is not about to retire. Her paintings are
still showing up in local shows. She
participated in the Shamrock Gardens
exhibit, Manchester in the summer of
2009. At the time of this writing, her most
recent works are The Red Mill and Indian
Summer which have been added to her
updated gallery.
The parents of Mildred Ponzio migrated
to the United States at the turn of the
Twentieth Century. They settled in
Elizabeth, New Jersey, an area which
must have reminded them of their roots
outside Naples, Italy. Their family soon
included six children. Mildred was the
only one of the children to finish high
school. These were days when children
had to work to help support the family.
Mildred's mother was a fine seamstress
who helped to supplement the family's
income. Mildred fondly remembers the
beautiful dresses and warm coats sewn
for her by her mother. As far back as
Mildred can remember, she had always
enjoyed capturing images on paper. She
attended Batten High School in Elizabeth,
New Jersey. Her sketches attracted the
attention of fellow students so much, that
she was always being asked by teachers
to illustrate the their notes on the
Ms Mildred Ponzio was photographed with her
self-portrait in the background as we discussed
her work. Click on photo for a larger view.
self-portrait in the background as we discussed
her work. Click on photo for a larger view.
Mildred Ponzio's works are in many media as oils, casein,
acrylics and watercolors. Her love for outdoor painting and fascination
with watercolors inspires her to paint many memorable statewide scenes and
events
acrylics and watercolors. Her love for outdoor painting and fascination
with watercolors inspires her to paint many memorable statewide scenes and
events
blackboard. It didn't take much for Mildred
to throw herself into the world of art. Batik
and screen painting were among her first
serious efforts. Her high school years
became a time of great artistic development.
Mildred married Carl Ponzio, an
automobile mechanic who worked his
way up to Service Manager at a Pontiac
Dealership in Westfield, NJ. Their four
children became the focus of their lives.
The sewing skills learned from her
mother were put to work for her own
children. Mildred filled her time as wife,
mother of four children, and a loving
home-maker. In the few quiet moments
she had left over from her busy days, she
eked out time to keep up with painting...
often until four o'clock in the morning.
While a teen-ager, one of her daughters
remembers watching Mildred working by
the window of her attic studio. It was a
cramped space with a view over the
fences and wash lines of a suburban
neighborhood. In the fading light, the
artist studied her sketches from live figure
classes. Her brush worked the pallet until
the colors were just right, and then
coaxed the form and spirit of an archer
from her canvas. This vignette of a young
Mildred Ponzio, brush in hand, marked the
next step in her development as an artist.
With her children prepared to take off on
their own, Mildred was now able to
throw herself into art. Her paintings
became popular and are now hanging in
galleries and private collections in New
Jersey and beyond. A few of her paintings
made a European tour along with other
artists selected to represent New Jersey.
Crestwood Village Six welcomed a new
resident in 1985. The first thing Mildred
did was to get involved in the Crestwood
Artists' Guild. Just as she threw herself
to throw herself into the world of art. Batik
and screen painting were among her first
serious efforts. Her high school years
became a time of great artistic development.
Mildred married Carl Ponzio, an
automobile mechanic who worked his
way up to Service Manager at a Pontiac
Dealership in Westfield, NJ. Their four
children became the focus of their lives.
The sewing skills learned from her
mother were put to work for her own
children. Mildred filled her time as wife,
mother of four children, and a loving
home-maker. In the few quiet moments
she had left over from her busy days, she
eked out time to keep up with painting...
often until four o'clock in the morning.
While a teen-ager, one of her daughters
remembers watching Mildred working by
the window of her attic studio. It was a
cramped space with a view over the
fences and wash lines of a suburban
neighborhood. In the fading light, the
artist studied her sketches from live figure
classes. Her brush worked the pallet until
the colors were just right, and then
coaxed the form and spirit of an archer
from her canvas. This vignette of a young
Mildred Ponzio, brush in hand, marked the
next step in her development as an artist.
With her children prepared to take off on
their own, Mildred was now able to
throw herself into art. Her paintings
became popular and are now hanging in
galleries and private collections in New
Jersey and beyond. A few of her paintings
made a European tour along with other
artists selected to represent New Jersey.
Crestwood Village Six welcomed a new
resident in 1985. The first thing Mildred
did was to get involved in the Crestwood
Artists' Guild. Just as she threw herself
into building a family, and developing her
artistic skills, Mildred immersed herself in
the Guild. At one time, she was vice-
president, but for twelve years, she was
program director. Mildred proved herself
in each responsibility she undertook. She
graciously shared her skills and knowledge
with all the members and was always the
go-to person when things had to be done.
Elizabeth, “Libby” Damiani, among the
founders of the Guild and Edna Pyle were
among her associates. Mildred is a little
less active than in her early years with the
organization, but is still a contributor the
the Guild's work.
When I visited Mildred to photograph her
paintings and to take some notes on her
biography, the painting, “The Archer” was
on her bedroom wall. It is the painting her
daughter watched her paint so many years
ago. While this work is starkly real, it
shows the care for color, shading and
detail that marks her evolving style.
Mildred the artist is still learning, and
growing. Today, she claims that she is
still trying to improve her colors and
composition. Be that as it may, Mildred's
strength as an artist has always been the
imagination and curiosity that has guided
her brush.
One of her admirers exclaims that Mildred
is a mistress of the color wheel. From a
few basic colors, she blends, tints, shades
and produces a palette as full of color as
an English garden. Her paintings now are
full of cheer as she slows to capture a
world as bright as her own vision.
artistic skills, Mildred immersed herself in
the Guild. At one time, she was vice-
president, but for twelve years, she was
program director. Mildred proved herself
in each responsibility she undertook. She
graciously shared her skills and knowledge
with all the members and was always the
go-to person when things had to be done.
Elizabeth, “Libby” Damiani, among the
founders of the Guild and Edna Pyle were
among her associates. Mildred is a little
less active than in her early years with the
organization, but is still a contributor the
the Guild's work.
When I visited Mildred to photograph her
paintings and to take some notes on her
biography, the painting, “The Archer” was
on her bedroom wall. It is the painting her
daughter watched her paint so many years
ago. While this work is starkly real, it
shows the care for color, shading and
detail that marks her evolving style.
Mildred the artist is still learning, and
growing. Today, she claims that she is
still trying to improve her colors and
composition. Be that as it may, Mildred's
strength as an artist has always been the
imagination and curiosity that has guided
her brush.
One of her admirers exclaims that Mildred
is a mistress of the color wheel. From a
few basic colors, she blends, tints, shades
and produces a palette as full of color as
an English garden. Her paintings now are
full of cheer as she slows to capture a
world as bright as her own vision.