I have a great love and respect for nature. I feel by painting it, I can share this love with others. Pissarro, one of my favorite impressionist, once said, "The task of an artist is to seek with our own senses the elements of what surrounds us." This quote sums it up for me. Painting outside the sky and land around me is the only way to capture the true light and feel for this beautiful place we call home.
I begin a piece by arriving at a location with a stretched gallery wrapped canvas, which has a golden base color. This will give my painting a warm undertone. I quickly scope out a scene to paint as the light changes by the minute. I want to capture the shadows cast by the sun. I take a deep breath and begin to enjoy the experience.
I am a 23 year resident of New Smyrna Beach Fl. I attended the University of Wisconsin, University of Tennessee and Milwaukee Area Technical College. In years past I have worked as a graphic designer, teacher and muralist. I have been seriously and exclusively painting Plein Air for the past 6 years.
I have taught art for Daytona Beach Community College, Artist Workshop, Inc. and Atlantic Center for the Arts at Harris House. I also for the past 8 years have run an Art Out Reach Program for New Smyrna Beach Middle School.
My work can be found in Public as well as private collections: City of New Smyrna Beach, Palmer Reifler and Assoc. of Orlando Florida, the White House in Washington D.C., the March 2011 cover of New Smyrna Magazine and many private homes.
Galleries: Bruneau Art & Frame Gallery, New Smyrna Beach FL / Clay Gallery, New Smyrna Beach FL / Framing Establishment, Ponte Vedra FL / Orlando Museum of Art-Gift Shop / Florida Museum of Women Artists, Deland FL / Gateway Center for the Arts-Gift Gallery, DeBary FL
Exhibits: 2008-White House Reception Invitational / 2009-11 Images Festival of Arts / 2010-Group Show, Gateway Ctr for the Arts / 2010-Solo Show, DeBary Historic Hall / 2010-Canaveral Natl Seashore Paintout Invitational / 2011-Disney EPCOT Art & Garden Show Invitational / 2011-Wekiva Paintout Invitational / 2011-Evinston Plein Air Paintout Invitational
Recognition: 2007 National Christmas Tree Ornament Selection / Patron's Award, Images: A Festival of the Arts
Associations: Plein Air Florida / East Coast Plein Air / Florida Cultural Alliance / Florida Alliance for Education / Atlantic Center for the Arts, New Smyrna Beach FL / ACA Harris House, New Smyrna Beach FL / Artists Workshop, New Smyrna Beach FL
Website: CathyBerse.com
Contact: Cathy Berse
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