ANDREA PLACER - 2024 Honored Member

Andrea was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, has lived in Heidelberg, Germany, Fairfield, Ct., and for the past 50 years, in New Jersey. For many years, her interest in art was primarily as a viewer and hobbyist, enjoying private efforts at painting, drawing, pottery and crafts, while she earned a B.S. degree in Biology, a M.A. in Communication Sciences and Disorders, worked as a H.S. Biology/Science teacher, and became a Learning Disabilities Consultant and Child Study Team Chairperson, providing Special Education services in several N.J. Public School Districts. 

Making art was enjoyed, but not as a serious endeavor. That all changed when Andrea encountered an exhibit featuring colored pencil drawing, decided to try it on her own, and became “hooked”. She describes drawing with colored pencils and graphite as a “perfect fit” to her temperament , requiring patience, enjoying the slow and careful process of layering, blending, and detailing, that allow her to represent extremes of light and shadow, textures and color.  Her subjects are varied: people, objects in nature, weathered surfaces and tree bark dominate.  Andrea reacts to them emotionally, strives to evoke their mood, and share the feelings she experiences of joy, wonderment, and the pleasure of being alive in nature. She has stated, “Experiencing nature is renewing and satisfying to me in ways I can ’t quite describe in words. Instead, I choose to express the joy I feel in my drawings.” 

Though essentially self-taught, Andrea has taken art classes wherever she has lived and has participated in workshops taught by colored pencil artists Paula Madawick, Kristy Kutch, Linda Lucas Hardy, Gemma Gyllling, Arlene Steinberg, Elliott Everson, Tanja Gant, Jesse Lane, and Ann Kullberg.

Andrea’s work has been juried into many national and international shows, including those of the Colored Pencil Society of America, the United Kingdom Colour Pencil Society, American Artists Professional League, Hudson Valley Art Association, Audubon Artists, Philadelphia Water Color Society, Allied Artists of America, and the Catharine Lorillard Wolfe Art Club, among others, winning many awards, including 3  “Best in Show”, several 1st and 2nd Place, and a Salmagundi Purchase Award. 

She was the Featured Artist in the May, 2015 issue of Colored Pencil Magazine. In 2016, “Coexistence” was a finalist for the Williams Prize for drawing. Her work has also been published in: CP Hidden Treasures, Vol. IV&V; CP Treasures, Vol. II, Vol. III; Vol. IV; The Richeson75 Int ’l Landscape, Seascape & Architecture 2014; The Richeson75 Int ’l Still Life & Floral 2015; The Richeson75 Int ’l Figure/Portrait 2015; The Richeson75 Int ’l Small Works 2016; several issues of CPSA ’s  “To the Point” magazine. Her work can be found in private collections throughout the United States, and in County Clare, Ireland. 

Professionally, Andrea has earned Signature Member status with the Colored Pencil Society of America (CPSA, CPX), is a Signature Member of the American Artists Professional League, Elected Member of the Salmagundi Club, Allied Artists of America, and The Catharine Lorillard Wolfe Art Club. She has been a member of and represented by the Piermont Fine Arts Gallery, Piermont, NY. Locally, Andrea has taught at The Art Center at Old Church, Demarest, the MBurton Art Studio & Gallery, Moonachie, NJ, and has presented to local art groups. A few years ago, she started a Drawing Group, teaching Colored Pencil techniques gratis to neighbors in the high-rise building where she lives. The group is thriving and credits their new interests and skills with helping them make it through tough COVID times. It has been a very gratifying experience for both teacher and students!

Andrea considers herself very fortunate to have found her artistic abilities, a part of herself she had not known existed. She’s feels fortunate, as well, to have become a part of the Catharine Lorillard Wolfe Art Club, associating with wonderful, professional women artists and serving the organization. She is extremely proud to have been named Honored Member for 2024.