Colleen Veneri, At Rest. Oil, 11x14.
“I am inspired by the natural world, water in particular. I tend to gravitate to scenes of the ocean, bay, or lagoon although any scene where I am immersed in nature makes me feel at home. I swim in the ocean most days and I am forever aware of water shapes, color and lighting reflected on the water. I find plein air painting to be the most challenging type of painting as it forces me to capture the fleeting light and perform quick observations. I am also acutely aware of the surrounding sounds of my painting setting which influences the painting in some mysterious way. This is why I don't wear headphones or listen to music when I paint outdoors. Allowing all of my senses to be on high alert enables me to feel the painting and remember the details. It's like taking a series of photos in my mind while I paint. The plein air practice carries over to my studio painting and makes me a stronger painter overall.” –Artist Colleen Veneri
