"Strength and Patience" - Paintings by Terri Fraser

Paintings by Terri Fraser, a resident of Annandale, NJ, will be on display at Bernardsville Public Library during the month of April. Titled "Strength and Patience," the show's opening reception will be held on Sunday, April 8 from 2:00 to 4:00 pm.

Ms. Fraser is an emerging artist. While she has always been skilled and trained in art, she has only been painting and showing her work consistently since 2014. Most of her work is en plein air. She says the process of packing her giant backpack and wandering through the New Jersey countryside allows her "to connect with the earth and find that moment I want to share in a painting. When working outdoors, I put information onto the canvas that allows me to begin playing with the paint process. Since preserving the environment is so important to me, I create 'canvases' with an eye toward upcycling materials and limiting waste. I often use upcycled fabric, plastic bags, vinyl and screens."

The emotions, feelings and thoughts Ms. Fraser experiences in her daily life are important to her, and she says the best way she knows to communicate them is through a visual medium. "As an artist and as a woman," she says, "I am most interested in sharing my voice and my views with others. Concerns about chaos in the world often fuel my approach to my paintings, and, as I spend a great deal of time outdoors, my thoughts tend to center on the environment and the natural beauty around me. Through my paintings I hope to achieve moments of thought and reflection that will ignite meaningful discussion of the earth and its landscapes."

Ms. Fraser has studied with Valeri Larko and Wes Sherman. Valeri Larko, a realist painter, influenced the use of color and light into her work, while Wes Sherman expanded her knowledge and allowed her to explore more abstract and daring approaches to painting. Ms. Fraser's work has been featured in multiple juried shows. One of her paintings, Backyard #4, was chosen as Best in Show at Artists of Yardley in 2016. The same painting was also featured in The New York Times.

Ms. Fraser was born in Maryland, but grew up in New Jersey. Living in the countryside, she was a true tomboy. Exploring the nearby woods, fields and streams, and making forts out of twigs and leaves were constants in her childhood. Nature has been a strong influence throughout her life. While she has had opportunities to live abroad, in cities and in suburbs, she is at her happiest in the woods. She lives among the tall trees at her home and studio in Hunterdon County.

The exhibition at Bernardsville Library will be on view from April 3 to April 29 during regular library hours unless a meeting is in progress. For further information, call the library at 908-766-0118.