Lori Niland Rounds

About the Artist

Artist Statement My artwork focuses on patterns in the natural world that I have observed throughout years of travel to all seven continents and all fifty states. My work demonstrates my interest in how shapes, colors, and textures can convey mood and meaning while at the same time capturing the atmospheric and physical characteristics unique to each region. Moving between painting and printmaking, I use a variety of materials and techniques to build surface textures all while thinking about how the viewer might relate to my artwork. As each piece evolves, I am transported back to the places that I have visited. I can see the morning mist in Ireland, the beautiful sunsets of Santa Fe, and the Northern Lights of Iceland dancing across the winter sky. It is my hope that the viewer of my artwork is transported to a place of quiet reflection, even if for a brief moment in time. Summary Lori Niland Rounds is an award-winning artist who specializes in painting and printmaking using beeswax, pigment, and heat (encaustic painting). In 2024, one of her pieces was juried into the Smithsonian Artists at Work exhibit on the National Mall. In 2022, Rounds was awarded an individual artist award from the Frederick Arts Council/National Endowment for the Arts. Her artwork has been shown in national and internationally juried shows and has received several awards. In 2018 one of her paintings was selected for display on the CBS Sunday Morning Show and in 2019, one of her largest paintings was selected for inclusion in the MOMA Digital Online Learners Show.  Rounds continues to evolve as an artist and during the covid years she completed several online workshops in new techniques including silkscreen onto encaustic, saturated monotypes, and the photo-encaustic process. Rounds recently completed her World Art History Certificate through the Smithsonian Associates program, and she now serves as a remote volunteer for the Smithsonian Associates art history and studio arts programs. She routinely gives presentations about her artwork in the greater Washington, DC area. Rounds has been creating art for most of her life, and returned to the studio full time in 2019 following her retirement from a successful career in Information Technology.  Gallery representation is by FAC/Hurwitz Gallery, Frederick, MD.

Artist's Statement

My paintings and prints are often described as 'atmospheric' and 'calming' by viewers, and that is exactly my goal as an artist! A sense of calm comes over me as I create my art, and I am so pleased when I hear a viewer describe my work as calming to view. As both a painter and a printmaker, I enjoy working in a variety of medium, including encaustic (beeswax and pigment), oil and cold wax, and acrylic. Encaustic is my favorite medium by far because it allows for the creation of depth and translucency in my paintings that is just not possible with any other artistic mediums. My art is influenced by a variety of contemporary artists including Paula Roland of Santa Fe and Jeffrey Hirst of Chicago, as well as artist of the Washington Color School and my college art professors at the University of Maryland including Martin Puryear, David Driscoll, and Herman Maril. Gallery representation by: FAC Hurwitz Gallery, Frederick, MD