Artist’s Statement

I am an impressionistic realist painter. I try to capture the reality of a subject in as simple a way as possible, leaving the viewer to engage in a conversation with the piece. This provides the momentum and challenge which keeps me intent on painting daily.

Color and light excite me, and oil paints allow me to layer and create texture with a variety of brushstrokes. I’m interested in the dialogue of shapes and lines in my painting and how light and shadow interact to create a narrative about the piece, capturing a moment or an emotion and sharing that with the viewer.

I paint a variety of subject matter, daily, either plein air or in my home studio. I've been fortunate to study with some of the best- and well-known contemporary artists from around the country through workshops or online courses.

I travel yearly to Monhegan Island, ME, to paint with a group of Artists called "The Treetops Crew". I've been lucky enough to paint in France, Italy, MA, Vermont, and NH. My beautiful coastal town of Milford, CT, is a continuous source of inspiration for me. In the past two years I’ve been painting on two farms in southwestern CT at various times of the day and throughout all 4 seasons.

Thank you for your interest in my work and for visiting my website. Please feel free to contact me if you’d like to arrange a studio visit, need more information about my work, or have an idea in mind to share with me.

Cell/studio (203)415-0616
Email: cathyliontas@gmail.com.

https://www.instagram.com/cathycollinsliontas/

https://www.facebook.com/cathy.burkecollins

Education

SCSU, Masters Degree in Art Education,1995
Art Students League, NYC
Lyme Art Association, Lyme, CT
Silvermine Academy of Fine Art, Darien, CT
Creative Arts Workshop, New Haven, CT

Memberships

Milford Arts Council, Milford, CT
New Haven Paint and Clay Club, New Haven, CT
Lyme Art Association, Lyme, CT
Oil Painters of America

Galleries

Gilded Lily,
101 River St.,
Milford, CT 06460
(203)878-7007
www.gildedlilygallery.com

Corliss Gallery of American Art
1855 Western Ave
Albany, NY

Shows and Awards

2024

March: judged Monson Arts Association Show, Monson, MA
April: “Color Yellow” show, Firehouse Gallery, Milford, CT
May Students Show, Firehouse Gallery, Milford, CT
June First Place, “Landscapes and Gardens” Show at Firehouse Gallery, Milford, CT
Sept., judged MAC show: “ Fear and Hope”
Nov., Honorable Mention, “Figure in Place”, Lyme Arts Association, “The New England Landscape”

2023

June: judged MAC show "Trees", Firehouse Gallery, Milford, CT
Nov: “Small Wonders”,Firehouse Gallery, Milford, CT
Dec: “Our Fragile Planet” and “Deck the Walls”, Lyme Art Association
Member and Resident Show, MAC, Milford, CT

2022

April: Curated “The Color Purple”, MAC, Milford, CT
May: Purchase Award- New Haven Paint and Clay Show
“Celebrate Color”, Firehouse Gallery, Milford,CT

2021

Jan: Staff Pick Award, "Home", MAC online show
April: “Both Sides Now”, Firehouse Gallery, Milford, CT
Oct: Third Place Award , “Lifting Restrictions”, MAC,
“Art on the Farm” Group exhibit Treat Farm in Orange, CT.

2020

Jan/Feb: MAC Member and Resident Show
March: “The Art of Monhegan”, Corlis Gallery, Albany, NY

2019

March: “Starting Again”, 10' by 30' mural at Life Haven, New Haven, CT
April: “Treetops Crew Paints Monhegan Island”, Southbury Library, Southbury, CT
Oct:- Judged “Landscapes from Unique Perspective” Coastal Artists of CT
Nov: "Painting Journey" Cafe Atlantique, Milford, CT

2018

Jan: “Go Figure” Firehouse Gallery, Milford, CT
Feb: Member and Residents Show, MAC, Milford, CT
May: Solo Show, Café Atlantique, Broad St., Milford, CT
Oct: Bronze Award, “Quick Draw Competition”, Cape Anne Plein Aire , Rockport, MA
Aug: Third Place, “Waterscapes", MAC, Milford, C

2017

May: Honorable Mention, MAC Pop-up exhibit at Milford Yacht Club
June: Honorable Mention, Spring Show, MAC, Milford, CT
Oct: People’s Choice , Middlebury Land Trust Plein Air Event. Nov: “Small Works”, MAC, Milford, CT