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UPCOMING EVENTS
Can't Fake a Smile by Janet Schwartz
| FEATURED MEMBER Julie Skoda Boerne, Texas Julie writes: My artistic journey has been greatly shaped by master painters including Richard McKinley, Sally Strand, and Kathleen Newman. Their influence has deepened my understanding of color, composition, and expressive techniques. I am currently exploring abstract realism, which many times happens after I’ve created a realistic scene and then deconstruct my painting to soften, delete shapes by using mark marking and texture to leave an abstract version of my original painting. Most of my paintings start with a colorful watercolor under painting on LuxArchival paper followed by layers of soft pastel with some watercolor exposed. I’m influenced by my natural surroundings and interests. Recently I’ve been exposed to the Japanese art of floral design, Ikebana, and I’ve enjoyed using my creations for still life paintings. I have expanded my career to teaching for over 13 years and currently teach online and in-person classes and workshops nationally. I am an IAPS Master Circle artist and a signature member of the Chicago Pastel Painters, Great Lakes Pastel Society, and the Central Mass Pastel Society. I am also an associate artist with Unison Colour Handmade Pastels. Beyond soft pastels, I am a life member of the Transparent Watercolor Society of America (TWSA), serving on its board for over a decade, primarily as marketing and print production chair and president from 2021-2023. https://www.julieskodafineart.com/ https://www.facebook.com/julieskodafineart/ https://www.instagram.com/julieskoda/ |
PAINTING CHALLENGE: AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL |