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April Issue 2003
Hilton Head Art League in Hilton Head, SC, Fratures Works by Kathy Tortorella
The Hilton Head Art League in Hilton Head, SC, is pleased to feature the work of local artist, Kathy Tortorella, whose show is titled, Reflections. The show opens at the Hilton Head Art League Gallery in Pineland Station on Apr. 15. The show runs through May 10, 2003. All of the paintings in her show are pastels, and all contain some form of reflection.
Tortorella studied art abroad where her husband was assigned while working for Exxon. While in Sydney, Australia, she studied watercolors and later took classes in oils while living in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Today her medium of preference is pastels, as a result of a workshop she took with well-known pastel artist, Joyce Nagel, who "opened her eyes to the joys of working in pastels."
"There is so much to like about pastels," says Tortorella. " I can set them up to paint with, leave them, and come back at any time without having to put everything away. The colors are vibrant and mix together directly on paper. I like to use sanded paper as it has enough 'tooth' to hold several layers of pastel. If I want to change something I've done, I just brush the pastel away and start over. It's a very forgiving medium in that sense. Because it is almost pure pigment, it is also one of the most durable of mediums."
Tortorella finds much of her inspiration in her surroundings here on Hilton Head Island and is particularly influenced by reflections created by the waters in and around the island. " I love the marsh at different times of the day and seasons of the year. The water is a wonderful subject, not only the ocean, but also the lagoons, inlets and tidal creeks. Whether it's the marsh, waves on the ocean, or birds feeding at the shoreline, all are twice as beautiful when shown reflected in the water below."
Tortorella reflections are as much intellectual as actual. " All of my paintings involve much reflection about the subject in order to portray it in the most honest way I can," says the artist. " I have deep respect for the beauty inherent in nature, and my goal is to 'reflect' that beauty as well as I can in my paintings."
Tortorella finds the local environment to be conducive to the production of quality work. There are many qualified teachers and fellow artists with whom she studies and paints. A new en plein air group of pastelists has been formed on the island to paint together every two weeks. " The Hilton Head Art League provides a wonderfully supportive community for learning and the sharing of ideas," says Tortorella.
Tortorella is a member of the Society of Bluffton Artists, the Southeastern Pastel Society and the Lowcountry Artists. Her work has been juried into numerous shows and is held in many private collections. Her career that began in computer systems and international postings that finally led her to Hilton Head Island give us an opportunity to reflect upon her accomplishments. Reflections is an exciting exhibition of local scenes that reflect some of what Hilton Head is all about.
For more information check
our SC Institutional Gallery listings or call the Art League at
843/681-5060.
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