About
Paula Marie Gibbs grew up surrounded by books and spent many happy hours trying to copy old master drawings from musty volumes. After obtaining a degree in history from Seattle Pacific University, she completed certificates in Children’s Book Illustration and Natural Science Illustration from the Rhode Island School of Design. Her career has ranged from graphic design to communications to coordinating a graduate program, and she currently paints in the evening after working days at a K-12 school. Her husband Joshua Gibbs is a teacher & author and both of their children have seven names.
Artist Statement
My art expresses gratitude for the ways in which lovely things—whether common or uncommon—enter our memories and can be drawn back out and shared with others. I believe that seeing well is an essential part of filling the memory, for “we all have need to be trained to see, and to have our eyes opened before we can take in the joy that is meant for us in this beautiful life” (Charlotte Mason). To this end, I sketch and paint from life as much as possible, especially when traveling.
Most of my personal work is derived from a combination of memory, sketches, and photographs, and my commissions integrate a client’s photographs with verbal recollections of the scene and its importance in his or her memory. My end goal is less to create an exact representation than to create an expression of love for a particular place, person, or thing.
FAQs
-
Yes! I will have a solo show hanging at the Gallery at Make Create Studio (inside St. Giles Church, 5200 Grove Avenue, Richmond, VA) from February 6 - 28. All are warmly welcome to join me at the opening from 5 - 7 PM on Tuesday, February 6.
-
I have offered commissions in multiple media (watercolor, gouache, acrylic) in the past and plan to do so again when my schedule permits. The best way to learn about commission openings is by signing up for the mailing list at the bottom of the page.
-
Although I love watercolor and gouache, I don’t always love the look of a piece when it is framed behind glass. One way to avoid the need for glass is to paint on Ampersand Aquabord, a warp-resistant board coated with an acid-free clay and mineral ground that has a texture similar to cold-pressed watercolor paper. After painting, I seal the work and apply several layers of UV archival varnish. The finished piece looks similar to varnished oil paint, with a lightly glossy surface that reveals vivid colors and depth.