Lucy Stevens | Contemporary Artist: Artworks & Biography

Born in Missouri, Lucy grew up in New Hampshire where she spent her days climbing trees and catching frogs. The little girl was rapidly attracted to artistic activities, but her admiration for her grandmother who was a writer encouraged her to follow the same path. She began a career in writing and taught literature at the faculty of Rhode Island for over twenty years. A faithful companion, her drawing accompanied her in every moment of the day (notebooks, margins of her students’ homework, shopping lists, envelopes, paper towels...). In 2006, Lucy decided to quit her job to return to her first vocation. She traded her pens for paintbrushes and began painting. She has exhibited in the United States since 2009.\n The artist works rapidly. She uses many mediums (pastels, watercolours, markers and coloured pencils...), with the exception of oils whose drying time prevent her from being spontaneous. She creates collages. Her technique is unusual; after spreading the paint with her hands, she engraves the background with all sorts of unusual tools, such as a vegetable peeler. She then incorporates ink, pencil and pastel with her fingers or a brush.\n Self-taught, she paints by instinct and with great generosity. Ideas and colours take shape in her head before they are brought life on the background. Creating is a way for her to interact with others, to touch them, and bring about emotions. Lucy appreciates the simplicity and sincerity o f c h i l d r e n ' s d r a w i n g s . H e r a r t i s t i c a p p r o a c h i s c l o s e r t o t h e c o n c e r n s o f a r t b r u t a n d p a i n t i n g s b y J e a n D u b u f f e t ( F r e n c h p a i n t e r , t w e n t i e t h c e n t u r y ) .