Meet Page Penna

ABOUT THE ARTIST

From an early age, I was influenced by family’s stained glass studio, started by my great-grandfather in the 1800’s. From the symbolic windows to the architectural, I marveled at how the art would draw you in and convey, either a story or provide a view that offers time for reflection. From those experiences, I learned that art conveys a rich portrayal of life, and stories that can be shared with all.

https://www.pagepennaart.com/
pagepenna4@mac.com
239.777.2152 

Page took time to talk about her painting, "A Study in White," which is currently on display at Art in City Hall Prospect.

Was there a specific moment, memory, or experience that sparked this work?

Yes. This painting was inspired by a pivotal time in my life after I moved back to Louisville from New York City, where I had been working as an art director and taking classes at the Art Students League. I returned with a renewed sense of curiosity and enthusiasm for painting. During this period, I became deeply interested in observing the subtle nuances of color—especially how light reveals unexpected shifts in seemingly simple subjects. That fresh perspective sparked this work and continues to influence the way I see and interpret color.

What story, message, or emotion were you hoping to convey? Through this composition, I wanted to invite the viewer to slow down and appreciate the subtle beauty found in ordinary objects. Although each object is white, I was interested in exploring the many hues that emerge as light interacts with their surfaces. The color of the reflected and cast light, along with its direction and intensity, transforms white into delicate variations of warm yellows, cool blues, and soft neutrals. My goal was to convey that even the simplest subjects contain remarkable complexity and beauty when we take the time to truly observe them.

Is there a particular element of the painting that is especially significant to you?
There are some objects that are symbols of my childhood and historical significance as gained along the way. The small ring-pot is something I made when I was in high school, the porcelain cruet was a gift from my sister, the architectural corbel is from my family collection, the Irish table cloth is something I bought in Europe, and the marbles are part of a family collection, having always been exposed to the art of glass. I set up my still life under natural light and allowed the light to filter through and rest of the stilllife objects and illuminate the clear and blue marbles, giving as a burst of color.

The palette is beautiful- why did you choose this color palette?
As mentioned previously, I wanted to explore the possibilities of a limited palette by using minimal color in my subject and relying on natural light. This restrained approach allowed me to focus on the subtle relationships between value, temperature, and light, creating a quiet, harmonious atmosphere while emphasizing the beauty of simplicity.

Working with a limited palette challenged me to create depth, unity, and texture without relying on a wide range of colors. Instead, I focused on subtle value shifts, layering, and variation in brushwork to define form and atmosphere. The restrained palette also helped establish a sense of harmony, allowing the viewer to experience a quiet, restful sense of place, with the soft light gently filtering through the curtains as the focal point.

Does this piece represent a new direction in your practice? Actually, it could. As I have progressed in my career, I have strived for simplicity and maybe I will revisit this style of painting.

The piece is large, what role does scale play in this piece?
The scale actually creates the character of the piece. Had it been a smaller scale it would not have shown up or been as impactful a subject.

What part of this painting are you most proud of?
I really enjoyed painting the marbles and the Irish lace.

What is a detail in the painting that viewers might overlook?
The viewer may not know that this painting represents decades of family history with the inclusion of the glasses marbles, the corval which was an inherent element in many architectural placements of stained glass windows, along with many personal memories. The funny thing is, the setting on which the Still life is placed is just a portable table purchased at Home Depot with a very large sheet of white paper placed on top of it.

PORTRAITS

Page specializes in portraits in Oil, Pastel and Acrylic working from life or, if necessary, from photographs. Her styles vary from realistic to impressionistic and are developed according to the client’s preference, whether formal or more playful. Page also paints still life’s as well as landscape paintings. 

Portraiture is an interpretive art which serves to capture the essence of the human spirit, a moment in time and a genuine likeness, to be enjoyed by family and friends for years to come.