Page 36 - The Bell Tower - Fall 2014

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“Scenes of Tranquility” is an exhibit of acrylic paintings produced mostly over the last two years by Rita Pelletier. The exhibit is primar- ily of scenic subject matter such as northern winter snow, sunsets, and tree lined terrains. Pelletier said that she loves putting barren trees or pines in most of her paintings. The exhibit was on display this past July.
Pelletier remarks on her desire to paint, “My life-long dream of finding time to paint and allowing my artistic ability to burst forth onto canvas is finally being fulfilled. Although it has taken a long time to attain, this dream has given me an inner yearning to reach this point in my life,”
Pelletier is predominantly a self-taught artist with an interest in drawing and painting. But in 1980, she wanted to further develop her techniques, so she took an art class with Marvin Jacobs, a renowned artist from downstate. Pelletier participated in craft fairs to sell her paintings and painted wood products. She also traveled parts of Europe and many places in the United States and had the opportunity to review and admire many different art techniques that helped her realize that she is a realistic artist.
Pelletier graduated in 1991 with a bachelor of science degree in education. In 2006, she earned a Masters in Education from Walden University. Pelletier is a retired elementary school teacher from her hometown of Madawaska, Maine.
Blake Library Gallery hosted a collection of portraits depicting ani- mals and people in a realistic style entitled “Eye to Eye” by local artist Lulu Pelletier.
Pelletier says, “I remember my earliest paintings were of peo- ple and animals, funny that I am still drawn to these subjects...”
Pelletier, born and raised in Fort Kent, has had a calling throughout her life to create. She says she was drawing, painting, or making art out of any object for as long as she can remem- ber. Pelletier taught herself early on; reading books about artists and their form of medium. Her first formal art education was in high school when she attended classes given by Claude Picard, a Canadian artist. Across the years, Pelletier continued her studies under other art professors gaining knowledge and experience in her work.
Pelletier tried a variety of mediums, such as oil paints, pastels, and colored pencils, learning how she could manipulate them to achieve the results she wanted. She found that the colored pencils worked best for very detailed realistic drawings. She says, “Each medium was very different, but at the same time gratifying in its own way. “
When discussing her career path, Pelletier says, “... I always told people that I would do my artwork as a profession when the time was right.” Evidently, the time was right. Pelletier owns her own studio named “Portraits by Lulu” and it is located on Market Street in Fort Kent, Maine.
Pelletier mentioned that she has been busy filling commissions ever since opening her studio. She says, “I am living my dream....”
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