Gretta McCall

"Art creates a sense of belonging when we see our experience mirrored in another. My job as an artist is to create pieces that speak of my experiences so that the viewer can see their own life in mine. This is the power of art and why we come back to viewing and making it."

Being attuned to beauty in the world around her is a source of inspiration and meaning in Gretta McCall's life and work. Self-discovery through the process of making art is also a central theme. The subject emerges from the secret places of the artist's heart while she paints. McCall believes that a life lived well translates into a strong, richly varied, and deepened voice in her artwork.

McCall’s paintings begin with an expressive drawing created from life. She begins to build the painting using many layers of oil paint. Printmaking and multimedia techniques are sometimes used to create texture and pattern. Weaving between subject and abstraction, McCall seeks to create a piece that evokes wonder and provides a place for viewers to feel an authentic and deep connection to the work.

In 2002 Gretta McCall obtained her BFA from Clemson University. She has created art throughout her life and has hundreds of works in private and public collections. While obtaining her degree, McCall taught painting to elementary children. She was inspired by the children's unbridled joy in making art. Letting joy be a guiding principle in her own creative process has remained with her to this day.