Barbara J. Pafume

ARTIST STATEMENT
My greatest joy in painting is to share my vision of a beautiful, powerful, mysterious, and peaceful world whose spirit is becoming lost in concrete, pollution, apathy, and greed. I want to remind people of the cost of instant gratification, not by painting the ugliness, but by calling back their deepest and most powerful feelings about this magical world I treasure and wish to preserve. I am inspired by strong dramatic light and contrast, which speaks to me and, I hope, to others of the mystery, passion, and delight that life offers.

I begin each painting with a few minutes of meditation and prayer to center and focus my creativity. I work from sketches, photos I have taken, or sometimes only from a strong recollection of a subject that has inspired me. Such is the case when I do night paintings. Sometimes I begin with color and let it tell me what it wants to be. Most of my work is done in my studio, although I occasionally paint on location, especially when I am teaching a workshop.

I consider painting to be my way of life. My paintings are usually realistic, with dramatic light and strong contrast. Although I now exhibit primarily watercolors or watercolors with pastel, I also paint and teach oil and acrylic. I consider painting to be my way of life. In everything I do, think or see, there is a potential painting inspiring me to pick up my brush and get to work or, as I prefer to think of it, to play! I am very blessed to be able to do both at the same time!

BIOGRAPHY
Barbara is an award-winning artist who studied at the Art Institute in Chicago, Silvermine Guild in Connecticut, and with several well-known artists working in oil, acrylic, watercolor and pastel. She developed her realistic style over the years to capture dramatic and poignant moments in nature and in life. Her commitment to restoring and saving the environment is reflected in the drama and passion of everyday scenes, and in her sense of color and contrast.

Barbara also teaches workshops and classes privately and for several art organizations, and has done so in Illinois, Connecticut, Georgia and Maine as well as in Vermont. She frequently has been invited to speak on her research in creativity to many businesses, as well as private and non-profit organizations. Although she now exhibits mostly watercolors and pastels, she also paints and teaches oil, acrylic and drawing.

She has had many solo exhibits and her work is hung in public and private collections in many Vermont locations, across the US, and in Europe. Her home and studio is in North Shrewsbury, VT.

American Artist Watercolor Magazine, Spring 2003 Issue, features 8 paintings and a demonstration of Moonlight painting and an article about Barbara's artistic and teaching philosophy.

In May 2002, two of her paintings were published by North Light Books . The beautiful hardcover book is titled Splash 7, A Celebration of Light, The Best in Watercolor. She is one of 75 international artists whose work was chosen for this collection and she is the only Vermont artist. The two paintings that were featured, "Cathedral" and "Ridge Light", are now available in prints at Eastman's in Rutland, Vt., from Barbara at her studio in North Shrewsbury and on her website. She is currently working on an instructional book about creativity in watercolor.

Barbara has recently expanded her art business, Four Seasons Studios, to include two new ventures. Treehouse Originals, is a collection of her original works of art that have been reproduced on greeting cards and are available on the web, and at local stores in Rutland and Manchester, Vermont. The cards, beautifully packaged 8 to a box, 2 each of 4 designs, are featured in two collections: Images of Vermont and Seasons of Vermont.

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