GretchenArt

GretchenArt Fine Art was founded to create new art using new and traditional media. Gretchen is self taught drawing on influences from a broad spectrum of experiences in the high fashion world (Yves Saint Laurent), digital media (Photoshop, Corel Painter, PaintShop Pro, Artweaver, Twisted Brush, etc.), Digital photography, travel and living in Europe and South America and exposure to the masters such as Van Gogh, Monet, and Renoir.

Gretchen’s artistic vision is to personalize art to create family treasures that keep precious memories alive. Using pieces of up to 36 or more original or customer submitted photos as building blocks, Gretchen digitally “sketches” out a composition, co-creating with her customers. Trees can be moved out of the way, telephone wires cleared, flowers planted even in the dead of winter for one’s favorite landmark, home or business view; and multiple photos can be used to edit portraits or family event mementos to capture the spirit of the person or event.

Once the composition is fixed and approved, the image is “pre-painted” digitally using Corel Painter and/or other art technology tools to add more painterly touches to the digital sketch.

The image is then fully painted on canvas in the size desired by the customer, with the reference composition used as the guide, using a mix of tools, including palette knife, sponges, brushes, etc. in oil or acrylic, with ink for details. Customers can order multiple paintings from the same reference sketch and each will turn out differently, like a second or third original in any size up to 40″ length or width.