The Artist
Born in Moline, IL, Cynthia Starkweather-Nelson received a BFA in painting and drawing from Northern Illinois University (DeKalb, IL) followed by an MFA in printmaking at the University of Minnesota (Minneapolis, MN). Upon graduation she was employed as the intaglio printer with Vermillion Editions in Minneapolis. Her work was represented by the Peter M. David Gallery, Minneapolis, MN. She also taught painting, drawing and printmaking at St. Thomas Academy in Mendota Heights, MN. She maintains studios in WI, and AZ.
The Works
My work is about very specific times, space and places. Currently I am focusing on three diverse ecosystems: the formidable harsh and beautiful Sonoran Desert, the fresh water biome of northern WI with the lakes and the prairies, and the temperate deep, lush rainforest of Washington state.
Within each of these zones many factors affect the subject matter and how I respond to it. The qualities of the light affect the forms in different ways. Is it reflective or absorptive? Reflections and shadows define the structures of the landscapes. The distance from the subject matter and the presence or absence of water all inform the images I choose to paint and how I approach them.