Mary – a Sketch – by Lee Machelak

She works from life, believing that it is the collaborative magic and shared feeling between sitter and artist that helps her capture that spark of personality.

“I am inspired by the idea that it might be possible to capture something of the essence of the sitter. I find it necessary to work from life so I can observe the sitter, experiencing their energy over time.”

Lee developed her accomplished traditional painting style through a process of rigorous art training. This included 3 years during the 80s with David Moore, followed by a year of classical painting and drawing at the Florence Academy of Art in Italy, thanks to the AME Bale Traveling Scholarship awarded to her in 1993. Her study tour also afforded her the opportunity of a month’s work at the Prado Museum in Spain. She has also undertaken study tours to the US. In 1995, Lee was also awarded the Violet Teague Portrait Prize.

In her still life paintings Lee focuses on the dramatic interplay of light and shadow. She enjoys the “theatre” of still life, setting the stage with special pieces she has collected and opulent fabrics. She also enjoys the everyday subject, seeking to show the inherent beauty that may otherwise be overlooked.