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Now In: Biography-R-Wesley
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The artist finished her first oil painting at age 12. She was born to rural schoolteachers in Happy, Texas, and grew up in neighboring small towns. She attended three Texas Universities before receiving her degree in art, then returned for further study at yet another of the state's great universities. Long before the world had heard of Roberta Wesley, during her time in Austin at the University of Texas, the artist's career was given a boost from some well-known Texans. Among them, Lady Bird Johnson purchased paintings for the Johnson Ranch. And Roberta's most memorable and challenging commission came from Mary Alice Shivers, wife of the former Governor. She asked the artist to paint Governor Shiver's face on a huge egg for the famed Neiman Marcus' Easter display. "Fun, but not easy!"
In the sixties, Roberta found success in the galleries of Taos, New Mexico, and, soon after, moved to that famous art colony. Since that time she has lived in widely diverse areas of the United States and traveled extensively.
Realism is Wesley's forte. Her desire is to communicate with the viewer, to create a human link, to draw out of herself that which will pique an awareness, some emotion, a mood, a mystery, a kindred experience with her viewing partner. And if a single human being can be touched by her work, their response is, indeed , of great consequence, to her as a person, to her as an artist. The artist's work gains strength from her intense desire to reach out and build that ever important human link..........
When viewing the works of Roberta Wesley, you are instantly aware of the striking spectrum of her subject matter. Pastoral scenes, gentle remembrances and romantic nostalgia somehow co-exist with waves of rampant elephants and tigers flying through lightning drenched skies. The creative diversity of her portfolio is evidence of the intense enthusiasm that fuels her artistic vision. She is an artist actively exploring and seeking to communicate life's many expressions and viewpoints.
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