About the Artist

Gretchen Bauman

An Artist's Journey

Gretchen Bauman is a representational painter born in Buffalo, New York and, from an early age,  loved to draw and paint.  Her father painted as a hobby and a high-school art teacher introduced her to oil painting.  Rather than art school, however, she pursued studies in economics and landed a job in the research department of a Wall Street firm which transferred her to their Paris office.  She resided in Paris for over 40 years and in 2001 she joined one of Paris' many 'ateliers d'art'.  She relearned everything associated with the art of oil painting, acquiring in the process a solid, classical formation in painting and drawing.

While in the Parisien atelier, Gretchen had the good fortune to study with several well-known French artists, notably, Jean Arcelin, known for his mastery of infusing his work with light and mystery.  She is also a member of the OPA and the Portrait Society of America and through this association she has been able to attend workshops with, among others, Susan Lyon, Scott Burdick, David Gray and Michelle Dunaway.

Her talents were further nurtured by several American artists, one of which, Mark L. Cohen, had this to say about her work:  "For the past several years, I've had the privilege of watching Gretchen create masterful oil paintings that rival the old masters.  Using stretched canvas that she gessoes with at least three coats, sanding the surface each time, to using the finest French-made oil paint, her meticulously painted landscapes exhibit no brush strokes, only a mirror-like surface.  They demand study.  They are lyrical."

Working only on stretched linen canvases, sometimes toned, sometimes not, Gretchen begins by laying down a quick sketch followed by an underpainting using very thinly diluted paint.  She then builds up her painting using the classical method of "gras sûr maîgre", or fat over lean.

While Gretchen's work focusses on landscapes, occasional forays into portraiture intrigue her.  She draws inspiration from nature, which is so grounding and invites the viewer to such tranquil yet mysterious places full of anticipation....the viewer wonders just where that passage through the woods might lead or what will happen if one keeps climbing that hill or isn't the color and majesty of the ocean other-worldly.

While winning several first place prizes in her Parisian studio, mastery of her art has advanced slowly and only now is she beginning to show her work.

Awards

2022

-Bronze Award for Green Caye #1 painting, Camelback Gallery's Land and Sea Competition

-Special Merit Award for "South Ocean" painting, "Seascapes" Exhibition, Light Space & Time Online Art Gallery

-Special Recognition for "Green Caye #2 painting, "Seascapes" Exhibition, Light Space & Time Online Art Gallery

-Honorable Mention for "Route en Quercy" painting, "Landscapes" Exhibition, Light Space & Time Online Art Gallery

-Special Recognition for "Le Cirque de Gavernie" painting, "Landscapes" Exhibition, Light Space & Time Online Art Gallery

 -Bronze Award for "le Cirque de Gavernie" painting, Global Painting Conclave, Landscape Paintings Exhibition

2023

 -Invited to exhibit "Mystical Morning" painting, in  the AQUA Exhibition and Publication on line exhibition opening February 1, 2023

For more information on purchasing, or just to say hello, feel free to get in touch at [email protected]