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Artist Member Cat Brysch

Background

Georgette Evans Grey has been active in the local art scene wherever she has lived, from San Clemente, California to Salisbury, Massachusetts to Socorro, New Mexico. She has honed her ability with transparent watercolor by continual practice of the art of painting and by participating in workshops with locally and nationally known artists. Born in Oklahoma, Grey has lived and studied in Ohio, North Carolina, New Mexico, California, and New England. With formal training in arts as diverse as printmaking and throwing pottery, Grey's true art school has been her life. Working now almost exclusively in watercolor, she describes herself as an interpretive realist. Her love of nature and her skill with watercolor combine with a vigor and passion that becomes enhanced through observation made keen by knowledge. Despite the seeming realism, her work reflects an inner emotional view that the artist refers to as interpretive realism, a style that offers more than the mirror of a photograph or the technical mastery of a draftsman.

Known not only for its beauty but for its consistent and documented increase in value, Grey's work is sought by collectors in the United States and in Europe. This comes as no surprise to many collectors, one of whom says of Grey, "One of the finest colorists I know … her work is varied and speaks to people on many levels. Some are attracted by her incredible sense of color, some by her composition and choice of image. No wonder she attracts a following."

Those familiar with Grey's work will be aware of her several extensive series: the rural series, recognized as an important documentary of our changing rural landscape (with particular emphasis on eastern North Carolina); her widely collected snow scenes depicting the stark beauty of New England in winter; her lush floral portraits and inviting landscapes that many say "take you somewhere you want to be"; the Southwest series that makes you miss the high desert; the sailing series that serves as a warm counterpoint to her snow scenes; and the growing series of local landmarks from coastal New England (with particular emphasis on the Newburyport, MA area).

An article published June, 1997 in The Kenly News, Kenly, NC says her North Carolina barn collection - part of the rural series - "captures what historians will come to view as an important part of the state's cultural heritage". Grey remarks that "The rural series is about abandonment. A way of life that is, for whatever reason, being abandoned. That is why you see the static scenes, still echoing with life and color, but alone. Abandoned. The later part of the series - the animals, the chairs - are intended to show that life goes on, that we persevere."

Her Winter Series is respected for saying so much with so little, the absence of paint and brush strokes building an eerily windswept, cold but accurate depiction of the duality of beauty and harshness that is New England in winter.

Grey notes that her Newburyport series could not be more different. From pastoral scenes near her former home in Salisbury (MA) to scenes of downtown Newburyport, the paintings are typical of New England in summer. The bricks radiate warmth; the flowers perfume the air; the people, boats, birds and buildings all bespeak of summer activity while at the same time urging the viewer to relax and enjoy the season, the time. Coastal New England's heritage and culture is evident in these compelling watercolors.

Grey is a charter member of Socorro County Arts, a co-founder of The Artists Guild in northeast Massachusetts, was Gallery Director of the Newburyport Art Association from 1994 to 1997, and is a past board member of the Seacoast Artists Association in Exeter, NH. Her growing body of work totals several hundred pieces. Grey occasionally accepts commissions, and is eagerly sought after as a watercolor instructor. A broad coss-section of her work can be found at www.vertuarts.com.

Education

• New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, New Mexico 1980-1982
• Montserrat School of Visual Art, Beverly, Massachusetts 1971-1974
• Atlantic Christian College, Wilson, North Carolina 1968-1971

Affiliations

• Vertu Arts
• Socorro County Arts (Charter Member)
• International Society of Marine Painters (Associate Member)
• New Hampshire Art Association (Juried Member)
• Seacoast Artist Association
• Farm Life Museum, Kenly, NC
• Other Exhibits
  Grey's work has been accepted into many prestigious exhibits including the 1997 Lassonde Show at the Robert Lincoln Levy Gallery, Portsmouth, NH, and a juried exhibit at the Whistler House Museum of Art, Lowell, MA. She exhibited by invitation at the Farm Life Museum, Kenly, NC in June 1997 and was asked to return in 1998. In 1996 she began exhibiting at Andover Art in The Park, Andover, MA, and is a familiar face at Art on Bartlet Mall during Newburyport's annual Yankee Homecoming. She has rotating exhibits at area restaurants and businesses. Before returning to New England in the mid-eighties, she exhibited in San Clemente, CA and Newport, CA. Many of her originals, plus prints and cards of her work are available at Vertu Arts, Ltd., Salisbury, MA where she is the resident artist.

last modified 30 April 2005    Copyright © Socorro County Arts    All rights reserved.