Cathleen Lawless is a contemporary realist artist who lives in Vienna, Virginia. A native of Lebanon County, PA, she grew up surrounded by her mother's collection of antiques and developed an appreciation for the craftmanship and beauty of old things. She spent a lot of time at the home of her grandparents, who led a simple life of hard work. Her grandmother taught her to knit, crochet and sew, instilling in Cathleen her passion to create.
Cathleen's love of drawing began in childhood. Despite her high school art teacher's urging to go to art school, Cathleen studied medical technology and spent most of her career in clinical microbiology. Her interest in creating art was rekindled when she was inspired to draw portraits of her two sons. This started her on a course of serious independent study, learning first from books and videos, and later taking classes and workshops to learn from contemporary masters. Over the years she has worked in a variety of media: graphite, charcoal, watercolor and pastel. She now works primarily in oil.
Cathleen's paintings harken back to themes from her childhood. She often incorporates her mother's antiques and other family heirlooms into her still life paintings, imparting a sense of nostalgia while showcasing the beauty of their shapes. Flowers are prominent in many of her works, and most of these she grows in her garden. She also enjoys the challenge of painting portraits and animals, including the birds that she enjoys watching at feeders in her yard. Through her art, Cathleen seeks to stir within the viewer the same delight in the beauty of her subjects that compelled her to create it.
In addition to receiving awards in local and regional juried shows, Cathleen's work has been exhibited in the Salmagundi Club (NYC), the Byrne Gallery in Middleburg, VA and in the ValeArts shows in Oakton, VA. Her painting "Pots of Pansies" was selected for the 2024 Oil Painters of American Eastern Regional Exhibition at The Centerpiece Gallery in Raleigh, NC. She is a member of the Oil Painters of America and the Portrait Society of America. You can see more of her work at www.cathleenlawlessfineart.com
