A Simple Beauty: A Solo Exhibition by Maggie Shively

Capturing light is my goal in everything I paint. My subject matter may vary, but there are always elements of light.

    Creating art is as much about training my eye as it is about training my hand. I paint what I see around me. This show has a majority of what I call my “red barn series”. I have been back in Indiana for around ten years, after living in the mountains of Colorado and then living by the ocean on long island. Shortly after coming back, I began noticing the simple beauty of the surrounding farmlands. Sunsets and sunrises were spectacular. I also noticed that nearly all these farms had at least one red building, often a red barn. I began focusing on the skies. Oceans and mountains are beautiful, but nothing is more striking to me than a sunrise or a sunset over midwestern farmland. Maybe it took getting away to come back and really see them for the “first” time.

    In a past series, I painted barges. I have included a few in this show as well, but this time the sky in each is more dramatic. The beach images are from a trip I took to Michigan, once again showcasing the skies. And no show of mine would be complete without an animal portrait. Once again, it’s not just about the objects I’m painting, it’s about how the light is hitting those objects. My goal is to make them “pop”, as they say.

    I have painted and drawn all my life. I love what I do and I love sharing it. Contact me if I can ever create something for you.