Artist Bio:
Cathleen McCoy Bristol is a former instructor at the Newark School of Fine and Industrial Art, the Junior Museum of the Newark Museum, Essex County Park Commission, Arts Unbound ,Senior Studio and Trinity Presbyterian Church Summer Program. She teaches painting for the Township of Maplewood.
Cathy has freelanced as a fashion illustrator but her passion is as a painter, focusing mostly on portraits and figure work but also paints landscapes, still lifes and animals. Cathy a frequent exhibitor, often works on a commissioned basis and has numerous works in private collections.
Artist Statement
Believing people are as individual as snowflakes, I have always been fascinated by the variations in the human race and enjoyed the cultural differences. Art introduced me to diversity at a young age. This has led me to explore diverse expressions of tradition and beauty. My ambition is to portray the beauty of all peoples.
I like to document the human experience with paint. The challenge of capturing a person’s mood, child’s innocence, warmth and caring of a parent, love for another, history etched on the face of the aged, weathered face of a labor or expectant joy of a young woman, is most enjoyable.
“The more I celebrate the differences in people, the more similarities I find.”