Artist Statement
Painting watercolor restores my soul like a prayer. I love the feeling of the water, mixing with the color, how it moves and absorbed by the paper. It is a spontaneous and magical feeling each and every time I paint.
Over the years, I have been painting landscape the series of “Waiting” and “Window of My Heart”. I enjoy seeing the Lord in the nature he created and painting elements of nature is that nature is always waiting for me to visit, rest, enjoy, and receive the healing effects of hope and renewal. That’s why I’m passionate about painting the nature.
One of the series, “The Gate”, is inspired by the Bible and mission trip to Rwanda. This trip was a life-changing experience for me that brought back similar feelings of my youth in South Korea. The emotion, humanity, and spiritual enlightenment I felt rekindled my creative spirit was well and I was driven to create using new forms and images that look quite bold compared to the more formal landscapes I have been painting in recent years. In this series I combine a stylized realism with abstract design elements to create sweeping and colorful scenes that evoke joy, happiness, and a sense of humanity.
My most recent series,"In the Light" is inspired by nature and the Word of the Lord to show that light is life and our hope. I see the feast of light and color in nature, and I look to the Lord who shines his light in his face. This series is an invitation for lost souls. I also hope that weary, burdened souls in need of salvation will be led to Christ to restored and regain joy.
I give all the glory to the Lord who allowed me to express the joy of living in life with watercolors by meeting Jesus who is the light.
Bio
Claudia Trepanier was born in 1960 in Seoul, Korea. She started drawing while in high school at an atelier. She became a graphic designer from the Design Academy of Seoul. She enjoyed painting and sketching the Korea’s countryside on weekends. In 1999 she married and moved to Minnesota.
While in Minnesota Claudia taught Korean Culture Art to third and fourth grade children at Korean Culture Camp (KCC), Minneapolis, MN, 2004-2012. In addition, she also taught fine arts and craft at Deagean Korean School in St. Paul, MN, 2006-2012. She is currently an award winning Signature Member of Minnesota Watercolor Society (MNWS) and Red River Watercolor Society (RRWS). She enjoys painting watercolor full time and exhibiting her paintings throughout the region.
