About The Artist.

Thaddea B. Kuchera

Thaddea’s paintings are simple and strong in composition, yet suffused with soft light and blurred edges.  They convey the unique atmosphere of a North lit studio and a sensitive approach to her subject matter.

Kuchera has studied at length with the artists John P. Osborne and the late Joe Hing Lowe. In New York City at the Art Students' League, she has studied with Mary Beth McKenzie, Costas Vavagiarkis and Michael Grimaldi. This past year, she was admitted to the Copyist Program of the Metropolitan Museum of Art under the tutelage of the League"s eminent instructor, Leonid Gervits. As with many other fine artists, Thaddea is a perpetual student of art.  She is consistently reaching for a higher level of expression and is always perfecting her technique. She has also taken classes and workshops with nationally recognized artists such as Nancy Tankersley, Camille Prezwodek, Quiang Huang, Kathy Anderson, Murray Smith and Valerie Craig.

In 2012, Thaddea B. Kuchera left her career as an early childhood educator to pursue her passion for painting and become a fine artist.  She feels her best work happens when she becomes enthralled with the beauty of her subject and can sense the mood and atmosphere of a particular object or scene.  Whether painting large or small canvases, Thaddea finds that capturing light effects and color relationships are best accomplished through close study and careful observation.

Thaddea paints whenever and wherever she can.  While still being an accomplished pastelist, her favorite medium is oil on canvas.  Often, Thaddea completes her paintings “a la prima” (in one sitting), or sometimes, over the course of several weeks (even months) of planning, observing, working and re-working her subject matter.  Kuchera has traveled frequently in the United States as well as abroad, especially to France, seeking inspiration and opportunities to paint with master teachers who offer workshops of particular interest to her.  She values her past teaching and business experience as an enhancement of her perspective as an artist.

Thaddea B. Kuchera's work has been honored by the Pastel Society of America, the American Artists’ Professional League and the National Endowment for the Arts.  Exhibits of her work include a solo show at the Mt. Kemble Gallery to benefit the Women's Association of Morristown Memorial Hospital in Morristown, NJ, and a group show at the Frelinghuysen Aboretum.  Thaddea had two works included in the 2015 "Profiles of New Jersey" juried competition at the Park Avenue Club in Florham Park, NJ, and recently concluded a successful one-woman show at the same club.

“Throughout my life, I’ve always had a watchful eye. Observing people, places and things made me notice how sunlight, shadow, color and shape define everything we see.”