Local Pastel artist Beverly Kies work will be displayed February 12 through March 26 in the Grace Gallery. Beverly won Best in Show in our recent Juried Art Show. She teaches classes at Blue Ridge Community College and has been painting with pastels for many years. We will have a Meet and Greet Reception time to chat with the artist on February 12. Please come out and let her know you appreciate her work.
Artist Statement
“LOOK AT HER FLAMING COLOR, BURSTING WITH THE ENERGY OF LIFE”
My pastel paintings represent a medley of work, celebrating animals, places and people. My love for animals started at the same time as my love of art. As a child so young that I cannot remember a time without these elements in my life, I marvel continuously at the joy that animals bring into people’s lives.
I find my career in art continuously heading into new directions and dimensions, and this adventure brings me great personal satisfaction. I enjoy a certain playfulness in my pastel renditions, using vivid colors and expressive strokes. I like to believe that I paint animals as they see themselves. Landscapes challenge me to connect with nature, seeking compositions that will hold some interest to the viewer, setting a certain mood.
At age five, my mother, a watercolor and oil painter, sent me to the Atlanta School of Art. This early passion eventually led to a degree in fine arts from The Ohio State University. Following graduation, the next few years were spent in Colorado and Arizona, where I was inspired by the colors and character of the American Southwest.
Returning to my native Atlanta, I pursued a far more serious and focused pursuit of my painting. Moving to Hendersonville nineteen years ago got me even more involved in my art career and in my participation in the art community. I started teaching pastel painting seven years ago through the continuing education program at Blue Ridge Community College. I have learned that giving back as an artist and watching my students grow is as exciting as being a painter.
To view my work, please go to my website
www.beverlykies.com
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