Rebecca Catherine Gray is an artist living and working in Vancouver, Washington. She is primarily self-taught in the classical realist tradition, exploring ways of seeing and expressing the intrinsic beauty of the created world.
Rebecca began her immersive study of classicism in art history classes at Olivet Nazarene University, researching the philosophies and methods of the Pre-Raphaelites, Romantics, and Dutch and Flemish masters. These studies revealed the secrets behind the unmatched luminosity, depth, and life in the paintings Rebecca admired most. With such inspiration, Rebecca focused exclusively on classical realism since her undergrad studies.
Her adherence to classic realist methods sets her work apart from other contemporary still life and figurative artists. Her canvases are painted from life using controlled natural light and strict academic drawing methods. Intense, lifelike impressions of diverse subjects are the result of her deliberate compositions, countless hours of active seeing, and methodical, meticulous paint application.
Primary resources for her methods include Jean-Léon Gérôme, Rachel Ruysch, Abraham Mignon, Franz Xavier Winterhalter, and Jules Joseph Lefebvre. Rebecca has studied masterworks at the Vatican Museums, the Uffizi Gallery, the Chicago Art Institute, and the British Museum. She also attended a sight-size figure drawing workshop with Jura Bedic at the Florence Academy of Art.
Rebecca’s current series explores natural chromatic representation in contrast with controlled chiaroscuro modeling. Familiar forms of tobacco pipes and vintners’ grapes are infused with playful cast shadow disguises, hushed, soft-focus light, and cascading arrangements.
Email: rebeccacgray@gmail.com
Phone: 541.400.8432
Curriculum Vitae
EDUCATION ___
Spring – 2009 Gage Academy of Art Seattle, WA Juliette Aristides’ Classical Atelier
2001 – 2005 Olivet Nazarene University Bourbonnais, IL Bachelor of Science in Art
July – 2004 Florence Academy of Art Florence, Italy Figure Drawing in the Academic Tradition
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS _________________________________
2010 Lake Shore Design Studio Felida, WA
2009 Gage Academy of Art Seattle, WA
2009 The Aurora Gallery Vancouver, WA
2008 The Nevado Art Gallery Camas, WA
2006 The Nevado Art Gallery Camas, WA
2005 The Nevado Art Gallery Camas, WA
2005 Brandenburg Gallery, Bourbonnais, IL
2004 Greater Flint Arts Council Flint, MI
2003 The Good Beans Café Flint, MI
2002 Gretchen Charlton Art Gallery Kankakee, IL
PRESS ________________________________________________
May – 2005 Iroquois County’s Times-Republic: Watseka, IL Ashkum Artist Displays Artwork
May – 2005 Glimmer Glass: Bourbonnais, IL Beauty worth the layers of work
Jan. – 2004 Flint Journal: Flint, MI ’All Media Show’ jam-packed with fun
HONORS AND AWARDS __________________________________
May – 2001 Art Scholarship, Bourbonnais, IL Olivet Nazarene University
