Aurelia Schanzenbacher

About the Artist

I am predominantly a self-taught artist and photographer who has lived in Oregon for 20 years and recently relocated to the Appalachian mountains of Western Maryland. I describe myself as a nature/landscape photographer. Although, that defines only a portion of my body of work, since I love immersing myself into the historical culture of the areas that I am photographing. I love to travel and most of my images come from those destinations. Travel provides me with many wonderful opportunities for capturing interesting and beautiful images. I look for light, texture, shapes, and patterns that catch my eye. Anything goes in my creative post-processing. I use textures and painterly effects if they enhance my art, photographic image and my vision for the piece. In 2017, my interest expanded from photography to creating two dimensional art. Art has given me the ability to experiment in different mediums: oil paints, oil pastels, acrylics, watercolors, ink, color pencils and photographic digital artistry. While traveling, I've made a concerted effort to do quick daily drawings using mostly ink, watercolor or oil pastels, and have joined several daily sketch groups. After creating my art, I find it satisfying taking the drawings and enhancing colors, adding textures or transforming something less appealing into a digital masterpieces. To enhance my artistry skills, I've attended workshops and art classes online and offline.  Continuing art education has provided me with a variety of art assignments, ability to study the master artists, introduces me to new software, exposure to a diversity of professional artists and photographers and art critiques. I continue to explore new ideas and techniques in pursuit of creating beautiful and interesting two dimensional art. I have had art displayed at local galleries and online galleries; however, I have took a hiatus in doing large art projects as we are traveled across the country to see the U.S. National Monuments and National Parks. The upside is I know this will give me an opportunity to focus on photographing the beauty of the U.S. and share more art! I am a member of the Appalachian Pastel League and the, Allegany County Arts Council.