Michelle Vezina Peterlin

“I was a student under John Grillo during my college years at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Mr. Grillo is considered the Father of American Expressionism.

I consider myself an abstract artist.  When I get an idea for a composition, I am at first interested in the pattern of colors, lines and how it relates to the other parts in the composition. I am attracted first to color. Once I have worked out what the piece will look like, I will manipulate it to provoke mood and emotion.

I work primarily in acrylic because it has intense color pigmentation and dries quickly allowing for a lot of glazing. I start my painting by drawing out the composition in pen then covering the canvas in a dark color, usually raw umber. Next, I build up the color, layer upon layer, until I get the intensity I am looking for. I have been a professional artist for over 20 years.”