Lucretia Ellen McGuff-Silverman

I was born in Washington D.C. and grew up in San Antonio, Texas. In 1983 I received my MFA in Painting at American University. My medium has changed from oils to pastels since then but my subjects continue to be interiors and landscapes, and my post-impressionistic style has remained the same. My works range in size from 4" X 7" to 35" X 25". I develop the images primarily from memory and photographs of the site. Color relationships are a major aesthetic concern of my work. In my work I retain the color relationships present in the landscape or interior even as I completely change or heighten the colors.

My current body of work falls into one of three categories, the Garden Seasons Series, Post Card Series or miscellaneous works mostly of interiors. The Garden Seasons series portrays the different moods of a garden throughout the seasons. These views are of large public gardens. I began this series in 1988 and I am continuing to add new works to it. In 1994, I started the Post Card Series, the challenge of working in a small size has broadened my dry pastel technique. The resulting simpler format and vibrant colors make an intimate view of a world. Although the subject matter in this series ranges from gardens to farms to interiors, the mood is always of a relaxing get away.