Ronda Waiksnis is a full-time artist living and working in the Atlanta area. She focuses on both landscapes and florals, always done with a touch of abstraction. The utter capriciousness of the creative process is one she welcomes and embraces. “There is an ideal balance between creative abandon and deliberate control that brings a finished painting to life that remains somewhat organic and undefined.” Says the artist. Growing up within a creative family helped to develop her artistic dreams. Her grandfather was a found-art artist and her father is acclaimed aviation artist, Terry Williams, but it was from her grandmother that she learned about colors. It is really her love of colors, their relationship to each other and how they make us feel that is her main passion. Landscapes and florals are an obvious fit because although they have a foot in realism, they can border on abstraction. This opens up endless possibilities for color combinations and emotive compositions. Preferring to use large oil pigment sticks and pallet knives, she uses brushes only sparingly. The canvas must first be covered in acrylic paint, usually a metallic color like silver or iridescent white. She spends much time deciding on and mixing the colors. Then the application of the paint to the canvas or paper goes quickly and carelessly. This leaves the painting feeling organic and energetic! Ronda attended Broward Community College and Florida International University, studying fine art with an oil painting concentration. She is a signature member of OPA and has been passionately and professionally painting for over two decades. She has placed numerous works in both private and commercial settings and continues to strive for work that is emotive, visceral and expressive.