Irma Ward

Irma Ward grew up in St. Louis, Missouri where she learned the value of a strong work ethic in her parents' grocery store.  After moving to Texas as a single mom, Irma developed her business career with a major airline while also working on her college education.  She completed her bachelor's degree in business administration at the University of Texas at Arlington and continued her education, both formally and informally, as she pursued her interest in the arts.

In January, 2000, Irma made an unusual millennium resolution.  She decided it was time to reach her lifelong dream of becoming an artist.  After several years of self-teaching, she enrolled for classes at a local college and immersed herself in the study of painting.  Irma pursued many other art classes and workshops and earned certification as a Fine Art Instructor from the Liliedahl School of Traditional Oil Painting.  Irma now teaches and paints full time.  She is a member of the Outdoor Painters Society, Oil Painters of America, American Impressionists, Texas Artists Coalition, Ellis County Art Association, Trinity Arts Guild, and Arlington Arts League.

Finley

Down Under

Abstract

"When I choose to paint a subject or scene, one of my first considerations is composition and then color.  At first it was the use of bright colors that motivated me, yet the more I paint the more joy I find in observing and mixing the more muted colors found in nature.  The bright and vivid colors still excite me, but they are not as challenging as the more subtle hues that you cannot necessarily get out of a tube.   Often I "push" the colors to be a bit brighter just because I like them that way.