The artist of the 2nd quarter of 2011 goes to Roberta Nelson!
Critics have referred to the style of my work as Neo-Abstraction with mystical tendencies. As a result of my postgraduate studies in silversmithing and painting, the style of work reflects my enthusiasm for both the stylized design elements and the three-dimensional, illusionistic rendering inherent in the realistic drawing and painting styles. The subjects, whether representational or non-objective, are fractured into a flowing repetition of colorful curved-shaped rhythms that are inspired by natural forms, especially ocean waves. The subjects, mainly landscapes, figures, flowers, or jewelry designs, are fractured into curvilinear patterns of repeating colors that move through and around the composition in rhythmical variations.
Although I have experience in varied mediums, I work mainly in colored pencil rendering, watercolor, and layered, paper collage. The colored pencil renderings on dark backgrounds are shaded with the grisaille technique to impart a shimmering, luminous quality while those done on light backgrounds have various types of paper, especially handmade, as their foundation to create either soft or intense color effects. The collages are constructed with 4 to 15 layers of various papers that are then shaded with colored pencils or watercolors to enhance the dimensional quality of the work.
I was an art teacher in the New York public educational system for many years and have exhibited my work in solo shows and group shows in upstate New York, New York City, and Omaha, NE. I received my undergraduate degree in Art Education from Pennsylvania State University and did my postgraduate work at SUNY Oswego. I was inducted into Delta Kappa Gamma, thrice named in Who's Who of American Teachers, selected for inclusion in the 20th edition of Who's Who of American Women, and accepted as a member in the National Association of Women Artists (NAWA).
An Iris With Attitude
A Neo-Abstract floral done in a mixed media of watercolor and colored pencil on 140 lb.wt. watercolor paper.
Between A Rock and A Hard Place
A Neo-Abstract figurative that is done on a maroon colored paper with colored pencils.
Bygone Citadel
A Neo- Abstract landscape of one of the cliff dwellings in Canyon de Chelly done in watercolor on layers of paper. The colors are 6 different layers of 140 lb.wt. watercolor paper that arTite individually cut, glued together, and then painted.
