ARTIST STATEMENT

Renee Roos paints from her large back yard in Chillicothe, IL and from her campground in Victoria, IL. She creates paintings with acrylic on canvas or wood, often without cleaning her brush between colors. She takes inspiration from the sky, the flowers, and the colors of summer in Illinois.

Color is the most important aspect of Renee's painting. She picks colors that evoke joy, energy, and new life. She also plays with brushstrokes and texture. Renee is a nanny to a four-year-old and 1-year-old, and given the time she spends with little children, she believes the most exciting paintings are the ones that are fun to touch.

Renee has three themes in this showing:

• High contrast: bright colors, often depicting celestial bodies or abstract prairie landscapes.

• Four panel (quadriptych): Often showing a sunburst or four different seasons.

• Floral: taking direct inspiration from summer and the bright colors seen in nature.

Renee dedicates her artwork to her husband Dave and three children Rebekah, Benjamin and Aaron, who all bring color and chaos to her life.