Sandy Thybony

How many ways can you paint a raven? I’m on my way to finding out. Best known for “ravens with attitude,” I never tire of painting the quirky, brainy birds. But, for a figurative artist, all creatures are potential subjects. Lanky wolves, sometimes in kitchens or living rooms, or stoic bears are fun subjects too. Recently I’ve been painting somber-faced children with their animal familiars.

My painting life began with my “interior family,” faces that looked like no one, yet somehow, someone. Slowly increasing my subject matter and switching from watercolor to acrylics did not change the essence of my style. It is to pare down and simplify, take out any distractions, and paint what’s left—a chair, a pear, a girl, a raven. I paint in an expressionistic style using simple shapes and bold colors to create a feeling and tell a story. For me, emotion is conveyed through color. I try to use color like it’s another character in the story.