Darlene Katz was born and raised in Syracuse, New York. After receiving a Ph.D. in Immunology, Darlene moved to San Diego where she pursued a successful career in the biotechnical industry. During this time, Darlene also was cultivating her artistic talents. She has worked extensively with oil and acrylic paints, pencil, charcoal, and clay sculpture. She attended art classes at Sarah Lawrence College in New York and Northwestern University in Illinois and has also studied painting locally with Gayle Ansel and the renowned Spanish artist Sebastian Capella. For the past eight years, Darlene has been devoting all of her time to her first love; painting. Her major focus is plein air, portrait and still life painting. Her award winning work has been displayed at several Southern California art galleries and juried shows. Darlene is on the board of directors of the La Jolla Art Association and the San Dieguito Art Guild in Leucadia, California. She is also a member of the California Art Club, Her work may currently be seen at the La Jolla Art Association Gallery, the Offtrack Gallery, her studio by appointment and online at artbycity.com. Portrait and landscape commissions are welcome.
Artist Statement
A scientist by training, Darlene Katz believes that identical skills are necessary for both art and science. "Art requires a knowledge of technical information and science requires creativity. Often you find that people who are scientists are also accomplished artists because the same skills are necessary in both endeavors; enhancement by both the 'right' and 'left' brain is necessary to be successful in either field.
"In my own paintings, I look for value, composition, color, and simplicity. Subject matter is also important, but the power and resulting statement of my paintings comes from the technical interpretation of the work. My goal is to create an everlasting body of work that has an impact on others. I feel a connection with complete strangers who own my paintings and it gives me great incentive when I think my clients feel the same emotion when they look at my paintings as I felt when I created them."
