I have been drawing and painting since I can remember and although I still have a tempura I did when I was 6, I remember an earlier pastel drawing of a bobcat that I wish I still had. In high school almost all of my electives were art classes and I was a member of the Fine Arts League. My high school art teacher, Rosalind Couture, was a big inspiration to me. She really made me believe that I could pursue art and have a career doing something I loved. I went to the University of Wisconsin, Whitewater and then Rutger's University, Mason Gross School of the Arts where I majored in Drawing & Painting.
I moved to California in 1988 from the Midwest and have lived in Oakland since 1993. My art studio is in Oakland as well. I've always loved art in general and have worked in many different mediums. The color pencil drawings have worked out well as they were something I could finish for the most part, in one sitting. Each one has layer upon layer of color and they are very rich for color pencil drawings. Although small, they pack a punch!
In creating a drawing or painting, my intent is to capture an emotion or feeling. I want the viewer to experience what is going on. The images that I choose usually have a basis in reality, but more often a surreal expression comes through.
I have recently been exploring mixed media and have been working on are what I call "Art Boxes". This is a new direction for me and I am very excited about the possibilities, which to me are practically endless! I have recently completed my 4th art box and there are more in the works. I am planning on a series of oil paintings exploring textiles in theme.
I truly enjoy working away in my studio, surrounded by things I find aesthetic and that inspire me. I appreciate the process of drawing & painting; the texture of the surfaces that I prepare, the light coming through the windows, the richness of the colors, the smell of the mediums, and the excitement of having a finished work of art.
© 2010 Traci Boya