Gill Truslow
Gill Truslow works in her studio located in Keene, NH, creating luscious pastel paintings that illuminate the subject with a richness of color, texture, and sense of intimate connection to a special moment in time.
Artist’s Statement
Gill Truslow works in her studio located in Keene, NH, creating luscious pastel paintings that illuminate the subject with a richness of color, texture, and sense of intimate connection to a special moment in time.
Gill is a Signature member of the Pastel Society of NH and an Associate member of the Pastel Society of America. She has exhibited in national and international juried shows throughout the Northeast, and has won numerous awards, including the Ewing Arts Award for Excellence in the Monadnock Region. Her work can be found in numerous private collections, as well as on her website.
Q&A with Gill Truslow
When did you know you wanted to be an artist?
I was very fortunate to grow up with parents who supported and exposed my brothers and I to music and art, both of which I loved and pursued as an adult. I moved to New Hampshire in 1973, received my Masters in Art Education at UMass. Amherst, and taught Art for 34 years in both Massachusetts and New Hampshire, the last 23 of which were in Keene.
What would surprise people to learn about you?
Singing and dancing are also things that I love to do, and I performed in several of the
Lions Club musicals at the Colonial Theatre which were so much fun, especially the two
that I did with my son when he was a teenager.
I am an introvert, which is not a good quality to have as an artist! But I summon the
courage I need to present myself and my work to those who come to see it. The wonderful thing about art is the ability to capture a moment in time, including the sensory, kinetic energy of the artist, which can be brought to life again by the viewer, each connection to the piece being as different as the individual who sees it. I love listening to people’s reactions to a piece and hearing how the subject or techniques may touch them.
How would you describe your art to someone who has never seen it?
Most of my work is realistic, especially my still life paintings because I love the magic of
creating 3-dimensional objects on a 2-dimensional surface using only color values to show form and reflected light, but I also do landscapes and figures in settings.
I have also enjoyed exploring abstraction which is an exciting challenge.
What achievements in the area of art are you proudest of?
I was honored to be one of the first artists to win the Ewing Arts Award for Excellence in
the Monadnock Region. I am also proud of my work as a teacher, and as past President and Chair of Art in the Park for the Monadnock Area Art Association.
How would you describe your art process?
I search for things that inspire me either visually or that touch my heart. I start with a good composition doing a sketch and value study, then prepare a surface that would suit the textures and colors of the painting, sometimes followed by a small color study before diving into a full-size painting. I work for an hour or so, taking pictures of my process along the way, step away from the painting and then return later with fresh eyes to decide what the painting needs next.
What is your usual studio/working day like?
It varies because there are so many things I want to do. I usually start my day reading and thinking about art, get some exercise and then head to my studio.
What is the most delightful part of your life outside of work?
Spending time with my adult daughter who, though developmentally disabled, brings so much joy and light into our lives, and with my son who is both bright and caring. My family is at the heart of all I do.
Being in my gardens also gives me great pleasure. It’s all part of the process of creating beauty and sanctuary.