Theresa Shelton

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         Theresa was born in South Carolina while her father was stationed at the Charleston Naval Base. When his tour of duty was over, the family returned to their home state, settling on a small farm on the outskirts of Vine Grove, Kentucky.  Growing up on the land set in place a great appreciation for nature and life, nurturing a passion for art early in Theresa's life.

At the age of 10, Theresa received a Jon Gnaggy drawing set for Christmas and she faithfully performed every exercise until the pages were worn. She continued to study and hone her talent throughout her formative years, amassing an impressive collection of awards for a young artist along the way. Under the tutelage of such masters as Robert Hoffman, Cheng Khee Chee, Gerald Brommer and Charles Gruppe, Theresa has developed her own distinctive style. Using her favorite mediums of oil and pastel, she captures the essence of her subjects in impressionistic realism. Florals, still lifes and landscapes flow effortlessly from her talented brush. Despite being color blind, her interpretations have a depth and perspective that belies that 'handicap'. "I feel it gives me a unique advantage", She says. "It lifts traditional restraints regarding hues, allowing me to paint as I feel, adding color in places where my eyes only pick up shades of gray and brown."

            Traveling extensively to enjoy painting en plein air has given Theresa an additional opportunity to expand her repertoire. She now maintains studios in Vine Grove, KY and N. Fort Myers, Florida.

A founding member and past president of the Central Kentucky Art Guild, Theresa finds inspiration and growth by surrounding herself with other artists. Members of the Central Kentucky Art Guild voted Ms. Shelton ‘Artist of the Year’ in 2001. Theresa was awarded a commission for the Historic State Theater 7’x 24’ Mural, Elizabethtown, Ky in 2004.  She has exhibited across the Midwest and Southeast United States and abroad. Theresa is an ‘Exhibiting Member’ of the Kentucky Guild of Artists and Craftsmen; a juried participant in 'Kentucky Crafted: The Market’ and a member of Oil Painters of America. In 2007, she was nominated for inclusion to Southern Artistry, a showcase of outstanding southern artists.  Winning numerous awards in juried shows in a vast array of venues, her paintings hang in public and private collections across the United States and abroad.

    A Selection of Past Exhibits:   

     Flower Works Exhibit - Kentucky Artisan Center, Berea, Ky

     Central Kentucky Art Guild Regional Juried Exhibit - Elizabethtown Community College, Elizabethtown, KY

     Solo Exhibit - Historic State Theater Gallery, Elizabethtown, KY 

     Capital Arts Juried Art Exhibit, Bowling Green, KY

     French Lick Juried Fine Art and Wine Festival, French Lick, IN

     Pegasus Gallery, Louisville International Airport, Kentucky                                                         

     Plein Air Exhibit - Torremolinos, Spain                                                                                                            

     Plein Air Exhibit - Cascais, Portugal   

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Copyright © 2009 Theresa Shelton
Last modified: 08/12/10