Phyllis Steimel has been an important member of Salisbury’s art community for many years, not only as an artist, but as a teacher and an enthusiastic friend and proponent of all Salisbury’s artists. She is a co-founder of Plein Air Carolina and a member of many arts organizations including the Waterworks, and many aspiring artists have been inspired by her leadership. But it is the paintings themselves that speak loudest about her accomplishments.
Viewing Steimel’s oils on canvas, the first thing that strikes most people is the color. Inspired by the Fauves, she is a profoundly gifted colorist, imbuing her works with a palette so vivid that it borders on the otherworldly. But the impact of the colors is, upon careful viewing, a product of exceptional artistic acumen that blends restraint and discipline with razor-sharp instinct. Without an extensive grasp of the principles of composition and scale, the coloration would lack the power that it carries in her hands. Each painting is a careful balancing act, and Steimel never crosses the line into over-use. Instead, the color is used to breathe life into the details of unobtrusive, everyday objects and scenes. Steimel says, “Colors breathe beauty and happiness to the often overlooked sights around me. I portray a glance at our world; a snippet, fresh and unlabored; a scene that is fleeting, familiar and memorable.”
Appalachians, End to End features a series of paintings of the Appalachian mountain range, from the Labrador coast to the Smoky Mountains. An avid traveler and outdoor enthusiast, Steimel gathers impressions from her travels up and down the mountain range, interpreting each moment with her bold, fervent brushstrokes and inimitable palette. Many of the sights may be familiar to those of us who live in proximity to the mountain range, but Steimel has a way of revealing recognizable scenes in a fascinating new light.
A native of Rochester, New York, Phyllis Steimel received her BFA from Syracuse University. She has lived in Rowan County for over 25 years. A retired swimming coach, she has dedicated herself to painting for the last sixteen years.
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