Sophia began working as a commissioned portrait artist in 2000. Two years later she opened her own studio where she painted full time and taught classes and workshops year round. Then in 2009, Sophia and her husband moved from Pennsylvania to Colorado. The move kicked off a journey to define herself and her art. Merging the accuracy of realism with the direct approach of impressionism has given her the visual language to express herself with creative freedom to go beyond the literal and capture the profound and quiet beauty of a single moment in time. Among the varied subjects she paints—the effect of light on form and the importance of color and edges plays an important role. Preferring to work from in-depth life study has been a vital element in her growth as an artist. ia's paintings have been exhibited across the U.S. in gallery, museum and invitational exhibitions. Her work has received national awards with Women Artists of the West, American Women Artists, NOAPS and Oil Painter's of America. She has been featured in various art magazines including Fine Art Connoisseur, Western Art Collector, Southwest Art and International Artist Magazine. She currently lives in Colorado Springs with her husband and two dogs.
AWARDS:
Merit Award, Women Artists of America 2017 National Exhibition
Award of Excellence, Oil Painter's of America 2016 Salon Show
Award of Excellence, American Women Artists 2016 National Exhibition
1st Place, Master Class, Art Muse Contest, July 2016,
Award of Excellence, National Oil and Acrylic Painter's Society (NOAPS) Spring 2016 International On-Line Exhibition
Finalist, American Women Artists Spring Online Juried Show, 2016
Finalist, National Oil and Acrylic Painters' Society, International Online Salon, Spring 2015
Finalist, Figurative Category, Art Renewal Center International 2012/2013 ARC Salon
2nd Place Award, FASO/Bold Brush Competition, December 2012
Honors Award, Southwest Art Magazine Artistic Excellence Competition 2012
Finalist, International Artist Magazine, Dec 2011
Finalist, Southwest Art Magazine Artistic Excellence Competition, 2011
Finalist, Figurative Category, Art Renewal Center International 2010/2011 ARC Salon
Honorable Mention, The Artist's Magazine, All-Media Online Competition 2011
Top 50 Finalist, Southwest Art Magazine "Over 31 Competition", November 2010
Finalist, Fine Art Views (Bold Brush), November 2010
Finalist, Raymar Fine Art Competition, November 2010
Finalist, Raymar Fine Art Competition, October 2010
Honors Award, Inspiring Figures, Butler Institute of American Art, Sept 2010
Finalist, International Artist Magazine, August 2010
Finalist, Raymar Fine Art Competition, June 2010
EXHIBITIONS:
Women Artists of the West (WAOW) 47th National Exhibition, Nov 2017, McBride Gallery, Annapolis, MD
Mountain Oyster Club Art Show and Sale, Nov 2017, Tuscon, AZ
Miniatures by the Lake Show, Coeur d'Alene Galleries, Sept 2017, Coeur d'Alene, ID
Montana Miniatures Show, March 2017, Great Falls, MT
Art Muse Exhibition, Feb 2017, Jack Meier Gallery, Huston, TX
Oil Painter's of America 2016 Western Regional Exhibition, Marshall Gallery of Fine Art, Scottsdale, AZ
Oil Painter's of America 2016 Salon Exhibition, Castle Gallery Fine Art, Fort Wayne, IN
American Women Artists 2016 National Exhibition, Bennington Center for the Arts, Bennington, VT
Miniatures by the Lake Show, Coeur d'Alene Galleries, Sept 2016, Coeur d'Alene, ID
Out West Art Show and Sale, March 2016, Great Falls, MT
Traveling the West Art Show, October 2015, Southwest Gallery, Dallas, TX
Oil Painter's of America 2015 Western Exhibition, Wild Horse Gallery, Steamboat Springs, CO
Rawhide and Spurs, July 2015, Mountain Trails Fine Art, Santa Fe, NM
Art For Life, 2014, Abend Gallery, Denver, CO,
Oil Painter's of America 2014 Western Regional Exhibition, Mountainsong Galleries, Carmel, CA
Oil Painter's of America 2013 Juried Salon, Crooked Tree Art Center, Petoskey, MI
Solo Exhibition, February 2013, Rip Caswell Gallery, Troutdale, OR
Oil Painter's of America 2012 Western Regional Exhibition, Gallery 1261, Denver, CO
Oil Painter's of America 2011 Western Regional Exhibition, Lee Youngman Galleries, Calistoga, CA
Solo Exhibition, July 2011, Turpin Gallery, Jackson, WY
Oil Painter's of America 2011 National Exhibition, Devin Gallery, Coeur d'Alene, ID
Salon International 2011 Juried Exhibition, Greenhouse Gallery, San Antonio, TX
Salon International 2010 Juried Exhibition, Greenhouse Gallery, San Antonio, TX
Inspiring Figures, Portrait Society of America, 2010, Butler Institute of American Art, Youngstown, OH
Oil Painter's of America 2010 Western Regional Juried Show, Mountain Trails Gallery, Jackson, WY
PUBLICATIONS:
Southwest Art Magazine - November 2017, "Women Artists of the West"
Fine Art Connoisseur - December 2016, "The Enduring Appeal of Youth"
Western Art Collector - October 2015, "Traveling the West"
Southwest Art Magazine - December 2012, "Artistic Excellence" winners
Southwest Art Magazine - January 2012, "The Human Experience"
International Artist Magazine - December/January 2012
International Artist Magazine - August/September 2010
