A Return to Art
How does one define oneself; child, student, wife, mother, provider? So we swim through life’s giant steps, never sure what is ahead. Lo, when we are tired and believe it is time to rest, a new cycle comes crashing down. How we face change is the measure of our strength.
Irma Shapiro dabbled in oils for years. She studied, sold, won recognition and awards. It was a vocation, not a passion. With 5 children, painting was not a life priority. In 1976, after an untimely death in the family, she stopped painting altogether. For 20 years, Irma did not touch the brush. Then her husband became terminally ill and expressed how much her art had meant to him. A promise was made – a promise to paint with heart and soul. In 1996, exactly 20 years later, Irma began painting with a fury and energy that was a surprise even to her.
Irma defines herself as a colorist—mixing expressionism and impressionism on large cavasses with lots of brushwork. Her paintings depict landscapes without people to represent the emptiness without her sweetheart. There is subject matter, but not necessarily depicted by lines or structure. Using acrylic on canvas, she portrays her own spirit as the medium dries and seems to “pop”.
Since her return, Irma has been the featured artist at multiple one woman art shows and featured in various publications including the September, 2006 issue of Philadelphia Magazine. She has also won awards and recognition at many juried shows and invitationals. Irma feels that even though her husband is no longer here, he is proud of her achievements. Over the past 10 years the popularity of her work has been exciting. In her mind, “… the fun of a sale is knowing that someone loves your work enough to want to live with it”.
Irma Shapiro has a studio in her home, and sells by appointment and through select local galleries in the Philadelphia area.