Alice Pruitt - Athens Artist
I was born and raised in the river parishes of New Orleans. I quickly developed a love of drawing ans architecture. My early childhood was spent near the beautiful plantations along the Mississippi River. In later years I became fascinated with the architecture of the French Quarter and the South in general, including a love for the rural architecture of old homes, barns, and outbuildings.
Giclee on canvas by Alice Pruitt [/caption]I studied Architecture at Tulane University then switched my major to Art Education at the University of Georgia after moving to Athens. After spending years teaching art in public and private schools, I decided to pursue my passion for drawing and began to work on commissioned house and pet portraits.
Dog Portraits by Alice Pruitt[/caption]While the majority of my formal art training and experience was in drawing, the commissioned works led to experimenting with watercolors, acrylics, and pastels. I have spent time studying color theory and painting techniques in order to make the transition to painting. I have attended workshops with several artists in the US and France and I continue to study the work of other artists to experiment with various techniques. I prefer to paint subjects from personal experiences and places I have visited. I work from photos taken by myself or family members, only relying on outside sources for details that may be unclear. I spend a great deal of time studying my subjects which is evident in the details shown in my paintings. As a change from the tedious work involved in painting details, I enjoy painting with other artists in a plein air group. This gives me the freedom to paint quickly and capture the essential elements of color and light.
College Square, Athens GA by Alice Pruitt [/caption]I am a member of the Athens Art Association where I served as president for several years and also a member of the Athens Area Arts Council and the Oconee Cultural Arts Foundation. My artwork can be found in books including “Under the Magnolias” and the “ Athens Area Sketchbook.” My work is also in the permanent collection at the University of Georgia Center for Continuing Education.I am one of four artist whose work was selected for the 2011 Art in the Air project, which displayed a painting on a billboard in the Athens, Georgia area. I also have numerous pet portraits used on the set of an upcoming movie starring Owen Wilson and Glen Close.
