projects

| SUMMER IN CLEVELAND

In early June, Grace was asked by The Bbrave Foundation - a non-profit organization based in Cleveland Ohio - to create several oil paintings in representation of Bbrave’s theme for 2023: Building Bridges

The commission brief was to represent 3 iconic cleveland bridges

These paintings highlight both the important work that Bbrave does each year and the beautiful, industrial city where it began - and where Grace grew up & resides today!

Grace painted UNDER THE BRIDGE - the first in this Bridge Series - in 2 three-hour plein air sessions and 1 studio session. Grace set up her easel at the edge of the Cuyahoga River where the Cleveland Metropark Water Taxi ferries passengers back and forth from the East and West banks of the Flats. Cleveland’s bright blue Shoreway Bridge looks so good in oil paint and the UNDER THE BRIDGE painting went for highest bid in July’s silent auction

The plein air sessions were photographed by the talented Oona - in collaboration with Dragonfly Photography.

Grace Schlea at the Annual Fundraising event for the Bbrave Foundation at Collision Bend Brewing Company - Paintings

Each painting was sold in a silent auction on July 29th 2023 in honor of Bbrave’s Annual Fundraiser held at Collision Bend Brewing Company - which is located in Cleveland’s Flats - just three doors down from the spot Grace painted her plein air sessions for No. 1 in the series.