Featured Artist Valerie Pantalone

Artist Valerie Pantalone celebrates forgotten wild spaces in forests and meadows with her paintbrush. Enjoy, and view her website to see more.

 

 

I was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, but grew up in a small Southern New Jersey town surrounded by woodlands, meadows, farms, and vast untouched landscapes. My connection to nature began in childhood, shaped by the beauty of these wild spaces.

 

 

At 18, I attended the University of the Arts, majoring in printmaking and book arts before transferring to Rowan College of Art and Design to study art education. However, I soon realized that education wasn’t my path in life. I wanted to dedicate my time to the pursuit of art.

 

 

At Rowan, I recognized my passion for nature wasn’t just a childhood interest, but something deeper. This realization led me to start painting landscapes and nature scenes.

 

 

As our environment faces increasing threats like deforestation, habitat fragmentation, and emergence of invasive species. I see my work as a way to capture the beauty of today’s landscapes before they change forever.

 

 

I want my paintings to preserve and celebrate the natural world, inspiring others to appreciate and protect it.

 

 

When I find a landscape that moves me, I take a reference photo and remove any signs of human impact, such as buildings, roads, and/or paths. I focus entirely on the plants and trees. From there, I begin painting, following nature’s natural colors but also adding my own touches.

 

 

Over time, I’ve allowed myself the freedom to introduce colors not present in the original scene, but ones that reflect the emotional connection I feel. I believe nature creates the most intense and striking hues. My goal is to amplify that beauty through texture and detail.

 

 

What starts as a landscape photograph transforms into a vibrant, emotional expression on the canvas. I hope that when people see my paintings, they feel the same deep connection to nature that I do. A connection that inspires them to cherish and protect our world.

 

Valerie Pantalone invites you to follow on Facebook, Instagram, Bluesky, YouTube and LinkedIn.

 

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