“Painting for me is life and passion, the one place where I go and life has real meaning. I paint from a space inside my heart so all material becomes sensuous and giving beneath my brush. I am an easel painter and like to see the subjects and interpret my vision from my dominant position behind the easel. I search for the simple soul of all living things such as the changes of light, the shadows and the varying grays with their incredible abstraction. For me, growing as a painter means numerous hours of concentration and search. It means accepting the slow pace of change and waiting patiently for the moment when a composition comes together.”

 ABOUT THE ARTIST

For over thirty-five years Maria Bertrán has dedicated herself to her oil painting. Throughout the years her artwork has acquired a unique depth and richness not common in today's plein aire painting milieu. Spending her childhood in Venezuela filled Maria's vision with intense contrast and sensibility, strongly influencing her choice for themes and color.

In her studio Maria paints still-lives and the figure with live models. Several months out of the year she travels to paint, inspired by landscapes, seascapes, town scenes, doors, architectural details and more. Known for her bold brush strokes, Maria captures the atmosphere, the tenderness and the beauty of the moment, and is one of few artists to endure the difficulties encountered when painting on location.