When Teri Starkweather was a senior in high school, she took an oil painting class in which the students painted still lifes from direct observation, sparking her love of art. She then took a design class at a local junior college and a life drawing class for high school students at Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, CA. "I just wanted to do something creative", she says. "I knew that was the direction I wanted to go."
Starkweather went on to attend the Art Center College of Design and later graduated from the Atlanta College of Art. She then earned her teaching credential and taught high school for nearly six years., until she could no longer ignore the desire to create her own art. Working in oils initially, she developed an allergy to toxic chemicals, forcing the artist to convalesce for a couple of years. During her recovery she discovered her love of watercolors, which she uses today. Her still lifes showcase her distinct love of light and realism. "I've always gravitated toward realism," she says. "I find it really beautiful, more solid, and I find that I can make a more dramatic painting, which gives me more satisfaction." Starkweather's works can be seen at Cove Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA and Luminarte Gallery, Dallas, Tx.
https://www.southwestart.com/articles-interviews/feature-articles/portfolio-keeping-it-real
