Artist Statement - Strokes of Life
A painting captures a moment in time. That moment when orange leaves reflect in a cool mountain pond - a snow storm inundates a quiet Vermont village - a WWII soldier proudly ponders his time of valor - a young girl anxiously anticipates her coming womanhood - or a mother and son sit quietly in closeness.
The strokes of a paint brush, delicate or bold, record that fleeting moment that will never return again. The moment moves quickly and forever into history. The orange leaves will drop into the pond - the snow will alter the business of the little village - the young girl will exchange her sweet dress for teenager garb - and the mother will cook the dinner while the son runs out to play.
The brush strokes not only record people, places, and happenings, but the history of the artist as well. All of the artist's life experiences, training and emotions culminate during the process of painting. The strokes tell a story of who the artist is at that specific moment in time. Future paintings will tell a different tale. For tomorrow the artist will be a new person - will see the world with new eyes, a new mind, and a new heart, forever changing the strokes of life to come from the paint brush.
About Phyllis Higgins
Phyllis Higgins recognized her love of art as a young child. She was encouraged to develop her talents by her parents, teachers, and The Montclair Museum School of Art in New Jersey.
After earning a B.S. in Art and Art Education at Skidmore College, she taught in public schools, Adult Education programs and many private classes.
Through the years she studied with several renowned artists, among them Phoebe Flory of the Flory School of Watercolor Portraiture. Higgins became her assistant for several summers. While there she introduced a 'layering' technique on hot pressed paper wich became a permanent part of the curriculum.
In addition to her teaching career in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont, Higgins was awarded a National Endowment for the Arts Grant to teach as an Artist-in-Residence at Northfield High School in Northfield, Vermont.
During the juried state-wide Art Shows at Norwich University, two of her watercolors were awarded 1rst place and an oil painting was purchased for the permanent Norwich collection.
A watercolor portrait was awarded 1rst place at the Vermont College/Norwich University Art Show. Norwich Alumni, also, commissioned her to paint a large oil painting of the campus from Dole Hill. This hangs in the Alumni Hall (Robert's Hall). A copy of a former Norwich University President's portrait, also, hangs in the Norwich Trustee's meeting room.
Higgins' recent works reflect her desire to face new challenges. Objects and people emerging out of darkness, lighted only by candles or oil lamps are her newest adventures.