Barbara Spooner-Miller at age 93 still paints, though not as much as she used to. She loves to paint abstract paintings because they "evolve as I work," she said.
Barbara Spooner-Miller, whose paintings were on display during the Sept. 9 West Seattle Artwalk has been been painting nearly all her 93 years. But you might be surprised to see the style of art she enjoys painting. The work is decidedly abstract, often angular, thoroughly modern with movement and almost a sense of animation.
Her paintings are on display at The Kenney at 7125 Fauntleroy Way Southwest.
"I probably started when I was about 8 years old going to the art museum on Saturdays and taking lessons and I've been at it ever since, one way or another, drawing and painting."
Spooner-Miller first got a scholarship in art to the prestigious Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York when she was 17, but has also attended the Universite de Grenoble, in France, has a Master of Science in Art Education from the Institute of Design, Illinois Institute of Technology and a Bachelor of Science in Art Education from Chicago State University.
Her paintings have been in shows in Paris, Chicago, Denver, and in cities around Washington State.
"I like abstracts and they evolve as I work," said Spooner-Miller, "I don't like symmetry."
While she's been a very active painter for many years her output lately has been more limited. "Most of the time I am sitting and reading, because you know, I'm 93," she said.
Spooner-Miller has worked in oils but moved to acrylics some time ago. She still enjoys sketching figures in pen.
CLICK THE IMAGE TO SEE ONE OF HER PAINTINGS
