“What I try to do with paint is recreate the joy I experience in my subjects; the flowers that I grow, and the wildflowers in mountain meadows. This quote from Joseph Campbell, “The function of art is to reveal the radiance running through all things”, suggests why I have such strong emotional responses to our natural world.”Shirley Novak grew up in Southern California. As far back in her life as she canremember, Shirley has heard her inner voice calling her to paint. She studied art in California and in 1996 moved to Colorado to study at the Art Students League, and to study with Len Chmiel.“When I am at the easel I try to let the experience happen without forcing anything, and without judgment or negativity. Painting is a huge gift to my life. I love to encourage friends to give it a try. I believe we are all creative at our core. I love helping friends reconnect with their inner child and helping them experience the gift that painting is to me.”Her work is represented by Smith-Klein Gallery in Boulder, Colorado, SimpsonGallery in Cody, Wyoming, The Sylvan Gallery in Charleston, SC, and the Simpson Gallery in Montrose, CO. Shirley’s work is included in the permanent collection of the Western Colorado Center for the Arts, Grand Junction, Colorado and manyprestigious collections.