Inspired by the soft pastels of Degas in his ballerina works as well as the thick, bold paint of many Russian impressionists, this painting shows the texture of the ballerina’s ornate costume as she makes her last preparations before going on stage.
Little Rock native Kristen Hess has been taken captive by the rich colors and thick textures of oil paints since 2005. Her work combines the effect of light on her subjects with expressive brushstrokes, creating movement and depth in her pieces. Her representational style along with an extensive background in drawing come together with the atmospheric colors of the impressionists to create paintings that capture the emotion of the place or subject.
