“The Art of the 15th and 16th centuries is a gold mine of inspiration for me as well as the lithographs of the early Naturalists. I am also drawn to textiles and often have backgrounds resembling rich fabrics. The diversity of the natural world yields a never-ending supply of subjects for my paintings, however I never place my subjects in their natural environment. It seems far more interesting to give them a little of ours. The result is sometimes humorous and, I hope, often thought provoking. The accessories in my paintings which seem to take animals into our world, sometimes point to just the opposite, how truly they will never be of our world, they will always be mysterious and aloof.

 

 

“My work featured in Streetlight ranges from 1990 to 2011. It reflects both my continuing interest in medieval themes and textiles as well as animals in surprising settings. While two decades ago, my work was more figurative, today I prefer to stay in the world of animals. Fox (2008) and Eagle (2009) portraits transition between the tapestries where the people are dressed up, to the animals dressed up… then to animals with the patterned backgrounds who are not dressed up… For awhile I did large floor coverings that were all pattern. Now the pattern has come back into my paintings.”

— Cynthia Burke

 

 

A long-time member of the McGuffey Art Association in Charlottesville, Va., Burke’s paintings are in collections across the country although she shows primarily in the Washington, Virginia and Maryland area. More of Burke’s work may be viewed in her open studio at McGuffey as well as on her website studioburke.com.

— Elizabeth Howard, Art Editor

Follow us!

Share this post with your friends.