Where ART Lives Magazine Volume 2 Number 2 | Page 92

Where ART Lives Gallery Members
Theresa Paden

Theresa Paden is known for unique paintings that feature vivid colors and
expressive brush work. She is an animal lover and equestrian who has a
passion for painting horses, longhorns, wildlife, and people of the West.
She is dedicated to helping animals and donates a portion of all of her
sales to horse rescues and other animal rescue organizations. Inspired by
the Fauves, she mixes bright colors and i ntense light with her expressive
style to capture the heart and soul of her subjects. Cowgirl Magazine said
of her work, “Paden’s paintings are, in a word, sentient. Mixed into the
bright, bold pigments is a feeling of being in the physical and spiritual
presence of her subjects.” Theresa says, “I approach each canvas with a
feeling of adventure and excitement. My hope is that people will be
energized by the colors and textures in my work and feel an emotional
connection to the animals and people I portray.”
Theresa attributes her love of art to her mother, who was an accomplished
oil painter. “My mother let me use watercolors at 18 months old. She put
me in my high chair, gave me paper, paint, brushes and said, ‘Don’t drink
the water.’ She took me to art museums and galleries, and taught me to
paint with oils when I was about ten. I painted small paintings, 4x5”, and
sold them alongside my mother’s work at outdoor art festivals.”
In 1980 Paden was accepted to Art Center College of Design in Pasadena,
California, and started classes full time, majoring in Illustration. “I had
many life drawing and head drawing classes, as well as life painting and
head painting. I also took color theory, composition, and design classes. I
graduated in 1983 but decided not to go into illustration after all. I had
always loved lettering and had taken hand-lettering classes at Art Center
as electives, so I was able to get freelance work doing hand lettering. This
was back in the days when we used rapidiograph pens and ink. For several
years I worked as a graphic designer, doing logotypes for movie posters
and TV shows. Eventually I was hired at the NFL where I became their first
female art director. I designed Super Bowl logos, SB tickets, VIP party
invitations, and posters, along with team logos.”

www.theresapaden.com
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