A Sureness of Hand

When we open ourselves to our deeper experiences, we can find inspiration from the intensity of an artist like Marie-Rose Coenegrachts, particularly in her rendering of how the outdoors made her feel. Just as the majesty of densely portrayed foreground in one of her mountain paintings gives way to wistful layers of background, so do similar layers of discovery await a reader of this richly illustrated text. Dale Franz, editor "This book of art represents the embodiment of creativity, originality and artistry as seen through the eyes of a truly independent and strong "force of nature" as she was inspired by the beauty of the places along her journey. Artist Marie-Rose Coenegrachts forged her own unique style of painting that transcended popular or novel movements at the time. Marie-Rose has emerged as a celebrated and successful female artist on her own merit without compromising her artistic perspective. Unconventional at the time, she won many awards, debunking gender biases and following her vision of the intrinsic and evocative sense of beauty in nature. Coenegrachts has a distinctive and recognizable artistry that is evocative of the masters, yet unique and different, as it draws the viewer into the place scene. Her work is a creative legacy from an original female pioneer who followed her passion, painting what she loved for the pure joy of creation". Dr. Sheila L. Sasser, Professor, Editor & Author of Creativity Research in Marketing & the Arts "As an artist I am enthralled with the artistic courage that accounts for the uncompromising scope and immediacy of feelings found in this body of work. As a teacher I'm inspired to share Marie-Rose Coenegrachts' remarkable diversity of approaches, her command for rendering natural spaciousness with life-affirming awe, and her ever expressive, carefully selected details that cause my eyes to dance". Chris Koenig Seguin Dean of Education, Marygrove College

As a professor at Eastern Michigan University I have published 11 professional texts and over 50 refereed papers. During my tenure at E.M.U, since 1974, I have received many research awards, including the prestigious the "Outstanding Faculty Award from the Michigan Association of Governing Board" and the "Eastern Michigan University Distinguished Faculty Award for Publication/Research" in 1983. I was born in 1942 in Belgium as the third child into a family that adored History and the Arts. During my youth I watched my mother as she painted her canvases and received numerous international awards for her paintings. After receiving in 1964 my bachelor's degree in Engineering Economics from the University of Louvain, Belgium, I continued my studies at Purdue University, where I received my PhD in Industrial Engineering in 1970. I have been teaching at Miami University, Ohio, The University of Michigan, Michigan, Tsing Hua University, Taiwan, and have been a professor at Eastern Michigan University since 1974. I met my husband, Jack Wu, while a student at Purdue University. Together we have three children and four grandchildren. My husband and children, who adore my mother's work, encouraged me to design and develop this art book. So, because of the fame my mother made abroad through her multiple international awards, and because of the numerous complimentary press citations she enjoyed during her life, it is fitting to honor my mother and use my design and writing skills to develop this richly illustrated art book.