The spirit classical trained artist, Roberta Kritzia, encourages her viewers, collectors, and art students to look closer. She asks them to consider the possibilities of digging deeper and going further in their observations of artistic endeavors. Kritzia credits her deep and vibrant roots, in the art world, to being born into a large family of professional artists. She created to her heart's content enjoying access to art supplies and craft tools in her father's studio in her childhood. As an adult Kritzia studied with maestro Theo N. Lukits, a protégé of Alphonse Mucha (1860-1939), one the leading influences of the Art Nouveau Movement. During three years of classical training, Kritzia studied drawing, composition, rendering in graphite, anatomy, setting a color palette, and studio painting. Kritzia also studied at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and Art Center School of Design in Los Angeles, California.
Kritzia relocated, in 2007, to Cave Creek, Arizona, after teaching art classes for many years in California. Today, her home art studio doubles as a teaching space where she continues to create breathtakingly magnificent works of art in mixed media. The mood of the pieces is captivating for their elegance and quiet sophistication. Kritzia says, "I continue to impart my vast knowledge in art history and techniques of the masters to my students during our art classes. I provide a deep appreciation for the drawing and painting experience as we explore the classical tenants of fine art; composition, texture, line, shape, shadow, with a little drama thrown in." Kritzia also explains, "A unique twist to my creativity is for 32 years I have designed and lead yearly trips to Europe. My band of curious travelers has an opportunity to visit the continent's most renowned art museums where they view the art world's most famous masterpieces." A quote from Maestro Lukits, many years ago, still echoes through Kritzia's philosophy, "A true artist must work with the Laws of Nature." Lukits also told his students, "Art is visual music; we must first learn to read the notes to create a harmonious work of art."
"A true artist must work with the Laws of Nature." Lukits also told his students, "Art is visual music; we must first learn to read the notes to create a harmonious work of art."
Recently, Kritzia designed and presented a curriculum for the Musical Instrument Museum (MIM). The objective of the presentation was the concept of uniting the disciplines of art and music through a series of art classes. With the museum's go-ahead, she chose musical instruments from the MIM's vast collection for inspirational use in the class series of still life renderings. Kritzia also conducts weekly Friday art classes (now that we can all gather again) at her studio in Cave Creek from 9 am to 12 pm. She welcomes all levels of experience and offers small group as well as individual instruction. "I work with soft pastels, water-based oils, mixed-media, and a touch of collage to bring my Classical portraiture alive. I am passionate about passing my knowledge along to my students," responds Kritzia. She goes on to explain, "I include a short lecture, at the beginning of each art class, to highlight the techniques of an artist, who worked with the Classical tenants of Fine Art."
Kritzia's commissioned portraits are in collections around the globe from Europe, Japan, and throughout North America. Her most famous clients are the great French pantomime, Marcel Marceau, the Swatch Watch Corporation, and the Ritz Carlton Hotel chain. The Nippon Steel Corporation commissioned and sponsored her to do a series of watercolors during a trip to Japan. Roberta Kritzia's home serves as her studio, art gallery, and classroom for Friday morning painting classes.
Email: roberta1119@aol.com
Website: www.robertakritzia.com
