Barbara Anthony Gröndal
Gröndal respects the power she is afforded through her art. She regards her subjects as part of her chosen family. Many are simple, everyday people, pets, or wildlife that might otherwise go unnoticed—the factory worker, the elderly, poor, or perhaps the quiet, less attractive child who doesn’t feel loved. “I try to shine a light on them and give them visibility through my art.” Gröndal believes her canvas can be a powerful tool. She strives to evoke a new feeling or transformation of perspective through her work. “This is an opportunity to communicate with strangers on a human and emotional level, to bring a two-dimensional canvas to life,” says Gröndal. “I find this both compelling and challenging—it is what inspires me to paint.” Gröndal’s interest in art became a full-time vocation, when chronic illness required her to retire from a corporate career and channel her energy in a new direction. This abrupt transition soon became a blessing that enabled her to embrace her passion for drawing and painting full-time. “I feel fortunate to be able to make what I consider my true purpose my life’s work.” Gröndal’s work was accepted into juried shows early on. She employs a variety of mediums including graphite, charcoal, colored pencil, acrylic, and pastel. Her style is rooted in realism and often has a stylized ‘twist’ that invites the viewer to challenge their personal point of view. Gröndal views her art as a natural extension of the beliefs that keep her centered and balanced in her daily life. Her paintings reflect the abundance and wonder she sees in her surroundings as a life-long resident of the Northwest. She can often be found in front of her easel at her home studio in Everett, Washington, where she lives with her long-time canine companion, ‘Chinook’. When she is not painting, Gröndal enjoys traveling and exploring other cultures of the world beyond her own borders. These journeys provide continuing inspiration for her art. Gröndal’s work can currently be viewed at Parklane Gallery, located in Kirkland, Washington.
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Barbara
Anthony Gröndal is a self-taught artist who uses her art as an
opportunity to tell the understated stories of everyday life that
are often overlooked in our frenzied, racing-pulse world. She
strives to capture the quiet images of real life that occur away
from public view. “Those special, private moments that are deeply
personal and intimate. The visual introspection reflected in an old
man’s leathery complexion, or the fusion of joy and delight
expressed in an infant’s squeal. I strive to capture the essence of
that emotion on canvas as a frozen moment in time.