Fairfield artist Roseline Woods plans art show

FAIRFIELD — Mary Muller, artist and teacher from Des Moines, and her student, Roseline Woods, of Fairfield, are having a show at First Fridays Art Walk, July 1, from 1-4 p.m. and 6-10 p.m. at the McElhinney House, 300 N. Court St., Fairfield. (Muller will leave at 8 p.m.)

Muller will be showing one oil painting and two pastels. Woods will be displaying a selection of landscapes, portraits, and still-life in charcoal, pastel and oil.

Muller has been teaching for more than 50 years in her home in Des Moines. She teaches the techniques from a line of teachers descending from John Singer Sargent, famous realistic portrait artist and watercolor artist (1856-1925).

Woods searched for several years for a teacher that could teach her accurate portraiture. She found many amazing artist and teachers, but Muller is the teacher that she found who could teach her what she wanted to learn.

“I was told years ago that there are three kinds of artists — those with talent, those with drive, and those with both,” Muller said. “There are many with talent, some with drive, and very few with both. Talent can be acquired with experience.

“I believe the word ‘drive’ means love of the process of producing art. It is the desire to see and understand the truth. It is willing to start over if necessary. It wants to share what it loves. Roseline has both the talent and the drive.”

Muller added, “The purpose of art is to immortalize the view or person that you paint. All art needs to be beautiful. It requires a good design and interesting colors.”

“I love art that is beautiful, colorful, and that gives a deep feeling of love, peace, and enchantment,” Woods said. “The 3D effects of the technique that I learned with Mary gives my subjects life, structure, and dimension.”

Woods has been studying with Muller for five years and taken more than 200 classes. She has a B.A. in Art and a B.A. in Education from MIU.