“I have always felt more comfortable in the presence of mother nature. It’s no wonder that it shows up in my artwork continuously. The natural light and energy outdoors renews my spirit.”

Tricia May was born in New Jersey and raised in Southern California. She attended Orange Coast Jr. College and California State College in Fullerton. There her artistic abilities emerged. Watercolor was Tricia’s first medium of choice, painting children's portraits while raising her own family. These paintings were light filled and joyful.

When Tricia moved to Boise, Idaho with her family in 1992, she began taking oil painting workshops. Some of the artist’s she studied under were: Susan Sarbuck, Robert Moore, and Ovanes Berberian. She soon discovered the freedom of oils and that painting outdoors was a most exhilarating experience. She began giving private lessons and in 1999 founded the Plein Air Painters of Idaho.

Trips throughout the Northwest, Hawaii and the French countryside furnished Tricia with endless material to paint. Brightly colored impressionistic still life's and florals are also favorite subject matter.

“Somewhere along the way I became more interested in the abstract elements of the composition and went on a mission to teach myself to paint with little or no subject matter. This was very frustrating! I wanted to quit painting all together. But I kept at it and began to develop a process that produced the qualities I'm fascinated with.”

“I am especially drawn to the yin/yang of thick/thin, transparent/opaque paint, warm/cool and active/peaceful areas. I start by texturing the canvas, then brushing on transparent colors and continuing using thicker paint and palette knives. I still plan my painting ahead, but more generally. Intuition and spontaneity take over and I enjoy the process with less concern for the outcome.”

Common themes from Tricia’s earlier work are showing up giving her original art work a real transitional flair. Aspen and Birch trees are of continual interest to her. Painted on larger canvases, this new body of work shows the artists depth of character and her love of nature.