Saturday, December 02, 2006

Octavia Frazier

Art enthusiasts in Loudoun County may have already beheld a painting or two by Sterling artist and designer, Octavia Frazier. After all, she’s been exhibiting her art and winning awards all around our region for about 30 years.

Her work is easily recognizable. She paints still-lifes and interiors, combining vibrant hues and playful perspectives to create her signature energetic paintings. Ms. Frazier’s work offers a defined sense of an intimate and cherished space and time. When asked about her subject matter, Ms. Frazier said, “It just comes naturally to me as an interior designer.” Her style is very reminiscent of Henri Matisse, and indeed, she admits that he is one of her biggest inspirations. Her usual medium is oil but recent classes have inspired her to use collage in her work and she finds herself moving more and more towards the abstract.

Born in Weiden, Germany in 1946 to an American military father and a German-Yugoslavian mother, Ms. Frazier’s childhood was filled with travel and exotic homes. It was living in Paris, France that she gained her enormous appreciation for art and won her very first art contest at the tender age of 12. Her art education includes schools in Paris and Tokyo, Japan. She has also studied in the U.S. at the Northern Virginia Community College.

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