Landscape painter, Paula Rhoads works en plein air throughout the parks and preserves of Chester County, drawing inspiration from familiar places such as Stroud, ChesLen, Hibernia, Bondsville, Springton Manor, Kerr Park and beyond. With each piece, she strives to capture the sense of calm that resonates with her in these settings.
Paula works primarily with slow-drying (open) acrylics and favors small-format paintings ranging from miniatures to 11 x 14. Although her work is often described as impressionistic, her style is best understood as an organic expression of her state of mind while painting.
When weather confines Paula to her home studio, she turns to still life painting, a new direction in her work. She is particularly drawn to the flowing forms and distinctive character found in orchids and unusual shells, while her various floral works present new possibilities to explore color, texture, and composition.