ARTIST’S STATEMENT – Faith P. Weldon

All my life I have found myself spending my free time out of doors.  Skiing, hiking paddling, sailing, camping and now golf and tennis are some of my most enjoyable past times.  During my first career as a French instructor, I gave my all to enlighten teenagers regarding the glories of medieval cloisters and tapestries, gothic cathedrals, court painting, the Impressionist painters and beyond.  As the years have passed, I have retired from the classroom and found more time to pursue a life-long interest in art. At first I was focused on capturing through watercolor, the intricacies of the natural world, the texture and color of foliage, fur, feathers, the bark of a tree, the surface of a rock.  To this day ducks, chickens, and swans and other animals occasionally appear in my paintings!
As time goes on, I am exploring other mediums, acrylic and collage, and have been inspired by new and interesting results.  It is always a challenge to fill a space with color, texture and shapes that together have meaning to a viewer. My subject matter has also evolved and now includes some abstract pieces.  Right now I am finishing a series of Victorian ladies.  Next on the list will be paintings of musicians.  I always listen to music when I work!
I usually begin a painting with a plan and either sketch the shapes or lay down some collage pieces to organize the space.  Then the process of adding color, texture and line evolves.   A piece turns out well when the composition and other elements work together.  Then it’s a WOW painting.
I would like viewers to enjoy looking at my artwork and to be intrigued by not only the subject, but the unique layered effects.