American painter Eden Compton was born in Texas and raised in Connecticut. She currently has a permanent studio in Saratoga Springs NY and a floating studio aboard a 70 foot sailboat. Eden and her New Zealand born husband travel extensively throughout the Caribbean and the East Coast of the United States.
“My extensive travel has sparked an interest in different types of subject matter ranging from rural landscapes to cityscapes to market scenes and figurative paintings. I am drawn to the patina of old buildings and small towns that still retain an aura of authenticity and character; rainy urban streets; colorful markets and, of course, the people who inhabit those places."
In addition to her travels, Eden credits the works of her grandparents, Carl Benton Compton and Mildred Norris Compton, as another strong influence on her own paintings. The Comptons, considered to be visionaries, reflected Mexican culture through their modernist and often surreal artwork. They painted alongside Diego Rivera and Freida Kahlo and spent the summers in Guanajuato throughout the late 30s and 40s. Carl Benton Compton was very interested in the native Tarascan culture of Mexico which is evidenced through the iconography of his paintings and sculpture in particular.
Eden paints both plein air and in the studio in oils and pastels. “My current work is an attempt to synthesize memory painting based on observation with my plein air studies. It begins with sketches and drawings done on location and then completed in the studio where I can spend more time developing the concept of the painting. I am exploring visual expressions of poetic concepts rather than literal interpretations of a scene. To that end I employ a combination of direct and indirect painting techniques to achieve a rich and layered effect which I hope results in a compelling work of art.”
Her formal art education began with a BA in Art History from Colgate University and independent courses at the International Center for Photography in NYC. She has studied with Master Pastelist Doug Dawson and taken workshops with nationally known artists such as Alan Flattman, Lois Wooley, Colin Page and Donald Jurney among others. Her award winning work has been included in national juried shows including the Catherine Lorillard Society, Salmagundi and the International Pastel Society as well as numerous regional and local shows. She is a member of the Connecticut Pastel Society, Connecticut Portrait Society and Florida Plein Air. She is also a juried member of the Degas Pastel Society and Oil Painters of America.
