Sheila Underwood – Silk Painting

Best described an impressionistic painter, Sheila works from life, photos, and from her imagination. She uses large brushes and "juicy" paint, and tries to convey movement and emotion in her silk paintings. She strives to take the ordinary and make it dramatic and exaggerated. There are many ways that Sheila begins a painting. With several photos of her subject and a few props, one iris can become a vase of irises. Sometimes she'll do a simple drawing to use as a framework. Other times she'll start with a blank piece of paper and draw with her brush and feel her way through a painting. Some paintings begin with splashes of color and much play, which begins to set a mood, suggesting flowers, leaves, rocks and water. For Sheila, this is an exciting way to paint.