grace c. schlea
born 1990 Cleveland, Ohio
grace’s main medium is oil paint
“As portraiture is my main source of commission work, I strive for realism in my paintings and seek to learn from past and present painting masters. But I do prefer my paintings to look like paintings rather than photographic realism. I want viewers to see the grooves of the brushstrokes and notice where the bristles touched. ”
Grace also uses watercolor & gouache in her illustration work to offer a more playful, storytelling style
Images Taken by Oona of Dragonfly Photography
#inthestudio
Today, grace paints from her home studio in Northeast Ohio as well as on-site for client weddings and other events all over the U.S.
Grace has painted in San Francisco, Half Moon Bay, Mt Hood, St Augustine, and in Scotland with the Ayrshire Atelier of Fine Art.
Most of Grace’s work comes to her by client commission for Portraiture, Cityscapes or Live Event Painting, but there is always a series of original pieces evolving along side the client work! Grace aims to create a close likeness in her portraiture paintings, while still showing the viewer “all those intimate & intentional brush strokes.”
Live painting has enabled Grace to travel and practice both Plein Air and Figurative painting across the continent.
Grace has also sold many illustrative works created in graphite, gouache and watercolor mediums. Grace’s illustration, private oil painting lessons, and occasional book cover design have kept her work-life full of variety! But at the end of each project, Grace returns to the pull of classical fine art with portraiture and figurative painting from live models.
