Artist's Statement

I was one of those many people who knew, instinctively, that while I loved looking at art, I could not be an artist myself. I could not draw likenesses. I didn’t even think I could see sufficiently to recreate something. Trying to paint was such a preposterous thought that it deserved no consideration. Yet curiosity got the better of me. I dipped a toe, then a foot, into the pond of painting. Yet I still didn’t–don't– see myself as someone who can draw fluidly, a prerequisite for painting, right?

But color! Color lured me in and showed me a path to follow. I learned about the “painterly” approach, which emphasizes color and texture/brushstrokes (think Monet, Matisse, Cezanne, and Van Gogh). 

You will find evidence of this painterly approach and my delight in playing with color in the paintings in this show. Cloud formations, sunrises, and sunsets provide glorious chances to engage with both, hence the numerous skyscapes and landscapes highlighting skies. One wall holds still lives, a refreshing change when I can’t face grappling with one more tree.

My medium of choice is pastel. The vibrant, immediate color they provide excites and inspires me. There is one non-pastel, an acrylic, included in the show. Can you spot it without checking the labels?

Please, if you long to paint, don’t dismiss the idea without playing around a bit first. Like me, you might surprise yourself and find a mode of expression you love.

Special thanks to Theresa Somaio and Eden Compton--two wonderful teachers.

Trudi Jacobson

June 2025