Exhibiting September & October, 2024: Fawn Reiner Allen

Exhibit title – Moods & Memories

Statement

My early work in graphite is testimony to my fascination with the play of highlight and shadow, to render a subject as three-dimensional and basically “trick the eye.” My path to the medium of soft pastels was accidental, when a friend gave me a set of pastel pencils “in case” I wanted to colorize my graphite drawings.

Pastel pencils brought me to the medium of chalk pastel sticks (aka soft pastels) and PanPastels®. The immediacy and vibrancy of pure pigment are what make them a compelling creative outlet for me. They quickly provide a multitude of techniques that let me express myself in unique ways. Although pastel painting is technically “drawing” on special paper with ‘tooth”, the art world considers it “painting” because pastels can render a very painterly result.

My subjects are whatever gives me joy on a given day…a seascape of playful waves… the vibrant colors of our South Florida landscape painting ‘en plein air’… and recently, the expressive faces of my young granddaughters. My artistic goal for the future is to study portraiture and figurative painting, looking forward to a new creative journey.

Bio

A native Miamian, Fawn Reiner Allen was born into an artistic family, beginning her art training at age 5, painting alongside her mother, and later shooting fine art photography alongside her father, winning teen awards at the Dade County Youth Fair. Fawn’s preference for pencil and pen & ink drawing came in her high school art classes, likely due to her passion for observing the special relationship between light and shadow and the gradient values in between.

Fawn graduated from the University of South Florida with a BA in Mass Communications, utilizing her writing & photography skills in journalism and public relations. Her college training in graphic design gave her a 35+ year career in publication design. Recently discovering an active local community of artists, Fawn has served as a member and vice-president of the Coral Springs Artist Guild, and is an active volunteer and member of the Broward Art Guild, where she has won several awards for her pastel paintings. Fawn is also a classically trained coloratura soprano who has performed professionally throughout South Florida in opera, theater, and choral groups including the Broward Women’s Chorus.

Fort Lauderdale Reading Center provides reference services and public computers. It serves a diverse population of local customers as well as seasonal visitors. The same building houses ArtServe gallery/studios/auditorium and The Stonewall Library & Archives.