About the Artist Catherine Van Lancker has been creating art since she first picked up a crayon. Although she did not grow up surrounded by art or artists, her creative journey has been one of discovery, self-teaching, and deep observation. A lifelong learner and educator, Catherine has explored a wide range of media over the years. Today, her focus is on studio painting—drawing inspiration from direct observation of nature to produce boldly colorful, semi-abstract oil paintings on canvas. Born in Manhattan and raised on Long Island and in Rhode Island, Catherine left home at seventeen to begin a richly varied life path. Her journey includes college, art school, graduate study, travel, marriage to a boat design engineer, and a career that evolved from graphic design to art education. After the birth of her two sons, she became a devoted teacher and arts administrator, roles that allowed her to share her passion while continuing to grow as an artist. Catherine is not limited to the traditional canvas. She is a natural designer and tireless maker, whose creative endeavors span drawing, printmaking, painting, custom ceramic tile installations, set and costume design, illustration, graphic design, and home and garden design. Her work reflects an ongoing engagement with and curation of her visual surroundings. Her art can be found in private collections and commercial spaces, including original paintings, site-specific commissions, prints, drawings, and collages. Over the years, she has exhibited in numerous galleries and designer showrooms and has received recognition for her distinctive vision. Catherine attended Connecticut College, studied design and illustration at Rhode Island School of Design, and earned a BFA at Massachusetts College of Art. She also pursued graduate studies in painting at Pratt Institute and in art education at Rhode Island College. She currently divides her time between Rhode Island and New Smyrna Beach, Florida, with plans to return to Rhode Island full-time in the near future. Artist Statement: "This collection truly represents the freedom to fully express myself. Over the years, my personal art has adapted and changed alongside my life experiences. Now, I feel a sense of liberation from previous constraints and expectations I had carried as an artist.My aim has always been for my true self to be evident in my creations. It's not just about capturing a visual, but about forging something novel that reflects my inner world.I find joy in the act of refining and simplifying my observations into an image that holds some of the vitality of the original subject. My hope is that this essence, this spark of life, resonates through the artwork. Each piece reflects the journey of artistic choices made during its creation. It's important to me that viewers connect with and appreciate my work, allowing me to share a glimpse of the beauty I perceive in the world.Creating art now feels like a joyful act of self-care and personal expression – a chance to become completely immersed in the spontaneous and intuitive moment of creation, where the painting flows directly from my heart through my hand."