ABOUT THE ARTIST

After an unsuccessful quest to find a gotta-have-it piece of artwork for a big wall, I bought oil paints on a whim to give it a whirl myself.  I loved the result, and I’ve been painting ever since.  From the jump, I looked at a blank canvas as simultaneously intimidating and freeing, much like deciding how best to go about living life.  Life, nor painting, works out perfectly all the time, but when it does, it has been because I found the heart of why behind my choices. 

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My small town central Louisiana roots and subsequent life adventures in various locales are evident in my work.  My engineering career has afforded me the opportunity to live in and get to know different cities, and I have come full circle to make a home with my family, back in the city I love the most, Philadelphia.

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The engineer in me appreciates sharp lines, shapes and dimension.  The artist in me goes bold, using palette knives to add chunky pops of bright, clashing colors.  I like oils because the paint has heft and shine.  I am inspired to fill blank walls everywhere with life and color! 

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I have a wonderful partnership with The Stephen Smith Gallery in Topeka, Kansas.  www.stephensmithgallery.com.  You can also reach out to me at colieryanart@gmail.com.

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Americana 2024:​    The magic I feel when I create art ebbs and flows.  My new collection of paintings, Americana, is an exploration of circles and spheres, their relation to the yins and yangs of life, and what it means to be an American.  Although giving thought to our society’s imperfections brings me down, it also helps me appreciate the wins in the continuous fight for progress in myself, my community, and my country.  All new work available at Stephen Smith Gallery.