I appreciate your interest!

It took me 17 years to get my art degree. I spent most of those years learning the rules for making almost every genre of art except abstract painting, which is what I love most at the moment!

When I finally graduated, I decided it was time to create art in a way that allowed me to be messy and spontaneous. So much of my middle-aged life has become well-planned and organized; I gave myself the freedom to not always have everything meticulously planned out before painting.

I allow my emotions to guide my work. This is apparent in my piece titled Circumvolution. It is the story of my children heading off to college. I experienced a loss of purpose followed by the hope and excitement of new beginnings and the opportunity to reinvent myself.

As I paint, scratch, make marks and drips, layers emerge, images develop, and a story begins to reveal itself. There are crying clouds, lightning, and birds in this particular piece.

At the moment, experimenting with value and texture is most inspiring. I have narrowed my color palette to spend less time mixing and more time actively creating. My palette and stories will grow bigger and brighter as I have more time to play and experiment.

Art-making is fun but also challenging and emotional. It can feel like hard work or like an indulgence. When I can open up and make marks without hesitation, I feel like I’m becoming a better person for myself and the people closest to me.

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-Gretchen Ann