About the Artist

Welcome to my website.  I am a contemporary realist artist working in oil and soft pastel to create fine art paintings and commissioned portraits. Born in Tucson, Arizona, I began drawing and painting at an early age, winning my first award in a high school art competition. My artistic journey and continual search to achieve a balance of craftsmanship and artistic expression has been heavily influenced by the work of recognized Masters – both old and new – of classical realism.

Artist Statement

I choose to paint realistically because it depicts my perceptions of truth, beauty and spirituality, which I seek to share with the viewer. Realistic art can communicate ideas strongly because people already have a point of reference about the world and ideas, so they can more easily connect with a realistic image. Yet, by the art of painting we create an alternate reality; a sort of man-made dream for those who are awake. Humans can only assume that what we see is reality, but every individual interprets reality differently, which makes the artist’s job more challenging because we don’t know how our work will be interpreted by each viewer. For me, the beauty of art is that it can stir emotions and ignite the imagination of the viewer. This communication is extremely important to me. It’s like when you come across a great song that moves you in some way, and you want to share it with others to have a shared experience, yet it will mean something different to each individual.

Education
A mostly self-taught artist, Romero acquired a strong foundation in design while obtaining her graphic art degree in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She has built upon that foundation with continuing education in drawing and painting with internationally recognized contemporary masters such as Sadie Valeri, Virgil Elliott, Kate Stone, David Kassan, Cuong Nguyen, Justin Hess, and Thomas Nash.

Romero has won numerous prestigious awards and her paintings have been exhibited in national juried art shows, as well as the Triton Art Museum, Haggin Museum, the Edith Lambert Gallery and M.K. Sloan Gallery in Santa Fe, NM, and the Salmagundi Art Club in New York. She has also had pastel paintings featured in the February 2017 “Male Muse” issue of Poets and Artists magazine, and the February 2017 issue of the International Artist magazine.

Professional Associations
AZ Pastel Artists Association (Signature member)
Portrait Society of America
Pastel Society of West Coast (Distinguished Pastelist & Board member)
Pastel Society of America (Signature member)
Association of Women Artists (AWA)

Awards

Juried Exhibitions

• SoWest Florida Pastel Society National Show 2020: "Annunciation", "Life's Fragile Flame", "The Philosopher", September 2020
• MidAmerica Pastel Society National Exhibition: "Social Isolation", "Life's Fragile Flame", September 2020
• Southwest Florida Pastel Society: "Social Isolation", August 2020
• Pastel Society of the West Coast, Pastels USA 2020: "Social Isolation", August 2020
• Richeson75 Figure/Portraits 2020: "The Philosopher", September 2020
  
• Arizona Pastel Artists Association National Show: “Santo” and “The Gold Bangle”, October 2018
• Pastel Society of America Annual Exhibition: “Sea of Textures”, September 2018
• Arizona Pastel Artists Association National Show: “The Rose Tattoo” – March 2018
• Pastel Society of the West Coast Member Show: “Matthew” – March 2018
• International Artist Magazine – Still Life competition: “Sea of Textures” Finalist, February/March 2017 issue.
• Art Renewal Center (ARC)  Salon 2016: “The Rose Tattoo” Finalist, September 2016
• Pastel Society of America Annual Exhibition: “The Writer”, September 2016
• ASC People 8 Online Competition: “The Gold Bangle” Best of Show, August 2016
• The Haggin Museum Juried Exhibition: “Flight of Fancy” & “The Rose Tattoo”, July 2016
• International Assn. of Pastel Societies (IAPS) Exhibition: “The Writer”, May 2016
• Pastel Society of the West Coast  Online Membership Exhibition: “The Writer”, February 2016
• Pastels USA – 28th Annual International Exhibition: “Brian”, October 2014
• Richeson 75 Figure/Portraits 2014: “Alexandra” Finalist in Water Media or Other

Publications

• Blog Article: “The Artist Model: The Muse Behind The Magic”, Jan 19, 2018, featured pastel painting “The Rose Tattoo”.
  http://www.urieldana.com/articles/art/artist-model-john-carrasco/
• Poets and Artists magazine, February 2017 “Male Muse” issue #82, featured pastel painting “The Writer”.
  https://www.poetsandartists.com/magazine/2017/1/28/the-male-muse
• International Artist magazine, February/March 2017 issue, featured pastel painting “Sea of Textures”.
  https://www.facebook.com/romeroartstudio/photos/a.476433065359.382729.318207440359/10158167767255360/?type=3&theater

For more information on purchasing or commissioning a painting, or to just say hello, feel free to get in touch.