Paula Montgomery: Acrylic / Oil / Pastel

My path to becoming an artist has been a winding one. I began painting at the age of 9 when I received my first set of oil paints. I took a detour from art for 20 years when I worked as a Human Resource Officer for the CIA. Since my early retirement in 1993, I have pursued a self-directed education in art by enrolling in classes, reading art books, and, most importantly, painting a lot. In April 2010, I was commissioned to create 2, 7 x 9 foot “mermaid murals” for the Tropicana Resort & Casino in Atlantic City, NJ. One of the panels from the murals is shown below. In May, I was one of 20 artists to be juried into a show at the Campbell House Galleries in Southern Pines, NC. The juror for this show was North Carolina artist, William Mangum.

While on my artistic journey, I discovered that I like to paint flowers, people, and dogs in a realistic/impressionistic style. I also like to use bold passages of color to move the viewer’s eye around the painting. It takes a lot of discipline and perseverance to stay on the artistic path. I have worked hard to improve my technical abilities and am now working on a more expressionistic approach to art. I don’t always get it right, but I am still passionate about creating work that reflects the beauty that surrounds us all.

All artwork, images and content used by permissions and © 2010 The Community Arts Cafe, a publication of Salem Music, LLC,
Winston-Salem, NC 336-793-8000