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Accuracy is important in a portrait but I want more than the outer likeness. I want to find the inner essence, the soul that comes through the eyes. I want to find a moment in time that is there for an instant, and then gone forever.
My life has prepared me for where I am today with my art. As an actress and singer I am keyed to the dramatic moment, the story that has to be told. As someone who has spent her life with animals and animal rescue I find the animals speak to me. They tell me how the painting should proceed and when it is completed. Pastels seem to be the perfect medium for my work. The colors available to a pastel artist are spectacular. It's like having the worlds largest box of crayons. In my studio I am surrounded by color and I find the hardest part of being a pastel artist is choosing which color I will use at any time. The directness of pastel painting is very exciting. There is no brush that comes between the paper and me. I pick up the pastel and make my mark on the paper; with my hands I can soften a line. It is a very tactile medium. I love the connection that comes from the contact - the magic. And, if a little of the magic that goes into the creation of a painting touches the person who is looking at the painting than I as the artist am very fortunate indeed. |
