Cathy McGregor

Profile

Artist’s Statement

“When I paint, I feel euphoric! Painting connects me to the world and allows me to express myself and translate what I see and feel onto canvas. I strive to tell a story within each painting, and to communicate something very personal to each viewer. Observers bring their own set of experiences with them, which color their understanding of the work. Sometimes this leads to an interpretation of the painting in a way that I did not originally intend. That is why art is so endlessly fascinating . . . it’s such a highly personal experience.”

Artist’s Bio

Basically a self-taught artist, my interest in art began when I was five years old. I would spend quiet hours pursuing my passion in drawing, color and painting. However, my formal artistic career did not begin until the summer of 2005, when I picked up a paintbrush and started experimenting in acrylics. Since that time, I have continued to learn and expand my knowledge in art. An avid reader, I’ve spent many hours studying the works, techniques, and styles of other artists by observation and/or by reading books and magazines. I have also been attending classes at the local college and I plan to continue my formal education to encompass at least a bachelor’s degree in fine art in the future.

I’ve embraced a variety of mediums, but favor acrylics for their rapid drying and the myriad forms and textures that they can assume. Having dabbled in pencil, pastel, watercolor and oil, I find that each painting’s subject often suggests the type of medium to use. My style ranges from realism and impressionism to abstractionism using a variety of surfaces, and I paint both in the studio and “en plein air,” thus creating a diverse portfolio—from warm landscapes to realistic portraits.

Having spent most of my life in Illinois, my husband and I relocated to west Tennessee several years ago and I am slowly getting to know people, especially within the local artistic community. My goal has been to begin showing my artwork in local venues in Tennessee. As of this writing, I have exhibited in four or five shows and been commissioned by individuals in and around Jackson to create unique original artwork.

And thus, the journey begins . . .