I want my paintings to reflect a mood, an atmosphere, a sense of connection with the
subject. My primary interest has been people. When painting a portrait, I love to capture an expression that reflects an aspect of the sitter's personality. I strive to paint freely to keep the energy in my work, particularly when I paint people in action. It is a challenge to see how few strokes can convey a recognizable gesture.

The light on the subject is captivating to me, whether it is a person, landscape or a still life. I particularly love the late afternoon light. My choice is to paint a landscape on location, but that is not always possible. I will often take photographs and paint in my studio with the pleasure of reliving my memories of the place.

There is a sensual quality to painting. Each medium has it's own qualities. Pastel and oil have been my preference for the past several years. I love the immediacy of the pastels. I begin a sketch with soft vine charcoal, and then begin to layer with hard pastels, ultimately to the very soft.

When painting in oil, the quality that I love the most is the ability to keep going. Although some drying time may be required, one can push that paint around as long as one wants…anything can be changed.

No matter what the medium or the subject, painting is exhilarating, exciting, exhausting and frustrating. I am the happiest when I am painting.

Andrea Holland Hart