Grace Curtis
Grace Curtis’ paintings offer a romanticized vision of rural Maritime life. Painting primarily in oil, Grace’s paintings are largely representational (with hints of impressionism and idealism). Her style can be recognized through her subject matter, portrayal of light, harmonious palette, and confident brushwork. Much of her work is inspired by her quiet life in Prince Edward Island, Canada, where she grew up and now resides with her husband, Stephen.
Grace (b.1986) has a Commercial Art Degree (2008) and a Master of Fine Arts degree in Studio Art (2011) from Pensacola Christian College, Pensacola, FL. Among her artistic influences are masters such as Joaquín Sorolla, John Singer Sargent, and Norman Rockwell; her college mentor, Mr. Brian Jekel; and many other tremendous representational painters. She is a member of the Oil Painters of America, the Portrait Society of America, and the Society of Canadian Artists.
In 2019, Grace was honoured to have her design selected for the L.M. Montgomery statue in Cavendish, PE. Grace's artwork is shown in galleries in the Maritime Provinces and in private collections across the U.S. and Canada.
“My subject of choice is “rural sentimentality.” My work embraces the wholesomeness of rural life with a good dose of nostalgia. In my paintings, my figures are often found silhouetted by sparkling saltwater or a soft pasture on an overcast day. My goal is to evoke the beauty of those fleeting moments, recognizing them as gifts from God, presenting them and preserving them for my collectors.
When I paint, I strive for two things: One, a delightful painting process; and two, a beautiful, finished piece. On a good day, I will get lost in my subject, mixing and matching pigments and shapes, immersed in design choices that leave me in high spirits with a lost sense of time. On a lesser day, my studio work requires the discipline of working through uncomfortable problems until I find a solution, striving to reach the end goal. The end goal, regardless of the process, is to present a work of art that communicates something of lasting beauty to my collectors.”
