Shelley Prior

BASKING BEAUTY

JUNE 2022 PROGRAM WITH SHELLEY PRIOR
PAINTING WHITE FOWL WITH REALISM

Shelley Prior

Biography
Shelley is a full-time artist and art instructor, living in Burlington, Ontario where she was born and raised. She is married with 2 grown daughters who are also very artistic. Her watercolour painting style has evolved into a highly realistic style covering a variety of subjects which may include birds & wildlife, nature, portraits, floral, still life & landscape. She is a very active instructor teaching regular classes as well as traveling to teach workshops throughout Ontario, Canada and occasionally in the US which she has done for about 30 years. Although Shelley also paints in acrylic and oil, her main medium is watercolour.

Artist Statement:
I love the transparency and luminosity of watercolour. It’s something that is unique to only watercolour. Every subject presents new challenges and pushes me to try new techniques and different methods. Many years of experimentation (and yes, lots of failures) have taught me to use quality materials and plan ahead as watercolours are less forgiving than other mediums. Every success is a real triumph though and I love to share what I’ve learned with other painters.
Light is a crucial element in almost everything I paint. For me, it’s the life of the painting. I always strive to have interesting lighting in my work and try to create it though the application of subtle glazes and deep rich shadows.