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Work Samples

Sapling

"Sapling", 2022, oil on linen, 36" diameter; tondo with man on bench, a tulip poplar sapling, and flowers
"Sapling", 2022, oil on linen, 36" diameter

A Part

"A Part", 2021, oil on panel, 8" x 8"

Salutation

"Salutation", 2022, oil on linen, 36" diameter; tondo with view looking down on girl with cat and sunlight
"Salutation", 2022, oil on linen, 36" diameter

Sunflower July 31

"Sunflower July 31", 2021, oil on panel, 5" x 5"
"Sunflower July 31", 2021, oil on panel, 5" x 5"

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About Grace

Baltimore County

Grace Doyle's picture
Doyle is a Baltimore, Maryland native. She will graduate from Towson University's Studio Arts program this Spring 2023. She graduated from The University of Baltimore with an MBA in 2019, MICA with a BFA in 2009, and The Baltimore School for the Arts in 2006. Throughout her studies, Doyle has spent several summers painting abroad including in Norway, under contemporary figurative painter Odd Nerdrum. Doyle is a Finalist in the 2023 Miami University Young Painters Competition for the William and Dorothy... more

Recent Work

Through paint, I explore my friends and family in quiet, introspective moments. These compositions reveal a vulnerable side of the human experience that is only unveiled when people are not performing or fulfilling societal roles. I am interested in the inner person as well as what they project outward. Using richly painted surfaces with mesmerizing patterns and lush vegetation, I captivates the viewer to encourage curiosity and self-reflection.

  • Sapling

    "Sapling", 2022, oil on linen, 36" diameter; tondo with man on bench, a tulip poplar sapling, and flowers
    "Sapling", 2022, oil on linen, 36" diameter
  • Echo

    "Echo", 2021-22, oil on linen, 48" x 40"; painting of woman at window with plants
    "Echo", 2021-22, oil on linen, 48" x 40"
  • Phosphorescence

    "Phosphorescence", 2022, oil on linen, 20" x 20"; painting of woman with lamp and plants
    "Phosphorescence", 2022, oil on linen, 20" x 20"
  • Break

    "Break", 2021-22, oil on linen, 30" x 24"; painting of cats on a bed with sunlight
    "Break", 2021-22, oil on linen, 30" x 24"
  • Salutation

    "Salutation", 2022, oil on linen, 36" diameter; tondo with view looking down on girl with cat and sunlight
    "Salutation", 2022, oil on linen, 36" diameter
  • Canopy

    "Canopy", 2022, oil on linen, 21" x 19"; monstera, sunlight, and cat
    "Canopy", 2022, oil on linen, 21" x 19"
  • Audio Armor

    "Audio Armor", 2021, oil on panel, 16" x 8"
  • A Part

    "A Part", 2021, oil on panel, 8" x 8"
  • Doyle Exit 46x48.jpg

    "Exit", 2020-21, oil on linen, 46" x 48"; painting of two people at table with cat and patterned wall paper
    "Exit", 2020-21, oil on linen, 46" x 48"
  • Disarm

    "Disarm", 2021, oil on panel, 7" x 7"

Slow Down

These are carefully executed oil paintings of people meaningful to me in their environments. In these intimate works, I am interested in pattern, light, and color.  Additionally, I contemplate the sensitive connection between my experience and their inner world

  • End of Time

    "End of Time", oil on linen, 27" x 24", 2021
  • Reflection (Self Portrait with Tilly)

    portrait of the artist clutching a small dog
    "Reflection (Self Portrait with Tilly)", oil on panel, 8"x 8", 2020 Doyle clutches her small dog like a security blanket as it nuzzles into her shoulder. The animal disrupts the space, putting the artist at ease to confront the audience straight on. A playful bluish-purple shape gives the eye a resting place. The emerald hue in the background complements the pinkish orange of her skin, and coupled with multiple light sources, gives this painting a daydream-like quality. Together, artist and dog seek comfort and escape from their new and extraordinary reality.
  • Matt & Tilly in 2020

    painting of a man lounging on a sofa with unkempt long hair petting a dog
    "Matt & Tilly in 2020", oil on linen, 36" x 28", 2020
  • Microcosm

    "Microcosm", 2021, oil on canvas linen, 30" x 28"
  • Night Creatures

    "Night Creatures", 2021, oil on linen, 20" x 14"; painting of plants with self portrait reflection in window
    "Night Creatures", 2021, oil on linen, 20" x 14"
  • Vegetal Icon

    "Vegetal Icon", 2022, oil on canvas linen blend, 30" x 18"; painting of plants in front of Pontormo's deposition
    "Vegetal Icon", 2022, oil on canvas linen blend, 30" x 18"
  • Camouflage

    painting of woman outside in chair with camouflage shirt and plants behind her
    Camouflage, oil on linen, 34" x 28", 2019
  • The Philosopher (Kevin in the Kitchen)

    painting of a young adult man in a domestic kitchen setting in contemplation wearing a yellow pattern shirt
    "The Philosopher (Kevin in the Kitchen)", oil on panel, 8" x 8", 2020
  • Sunset

    men outside with eyes closed soaking in the sun
    "Sunset", oil on panel, 6" x 6", 2020
  • Chebby

    "Chebby", oil on linen, 36" x 24", 2019

Growing Things III

This body of work was started in response to the Covid-19 pandemic and continues each spring and summer. I focus on intimate depictions of flowering plants. These plants are mostly perennials, all feeding bees and butterflies. Watching the garden grow and the blooms come and go allows me to have a deeper connection to nature. Observing the living things around me is a meaningful meditation and reminder that time continues. These are small oil on panel paintings. I use a colored ground such as a bright red or green. Because I paint these in one sitting, the oil paint is slick on the panels and the under color shows through. 

Growing Things II

This body of work was started in response to the Covid-19 pandemic and continues each spring and summer. I focus on intimate depictions of flowering plants. These plants are mostly perennials, all feeding bees and butterflies. In addition to these small oil on panel paintings, I observed the vegetable garden through larger, sustained works on linen. Watching the garden as it grow and the blooms come and go allows me to have a deeper connection to nature in both my perception and presence.

Growing Things I

This body of work was started in response to the Covid-19 pandemic and continues each spring and summer. I look around me and focus on small, hopeful things, like tomato plants and sunflowers started from seed for the gardens. Watching them grow is thrilling. Painting them allowed me to slow down and capture special moments often over looked. Some plants seemed to have figurative qualities. Continuing to observe the living things around me is a meaningful meditation and reminder that time continues. 

Printmaking

Printmaking has always been comforting to me because of its heavy reliance on process. By recently exploring monotype printing, I can combine the immediacy of plein air painting with that procedural process. Racing the etching ink drying on my plexiglass plate, I find the level of heightened presence creating the monotype image similar to my experience painting plants in my garden. Using the small plant paintings created over the summer as a jumping off point, I have since started to explore different imagery such as my many sassy cats. Printing the image is a one-off; it could fail or succeed. Peeling the paper off the plexi plate is an exciting moment of anticipation. With a second run through the printing press, a ghost print is made. These I work into further with watercolor pushing color and light.

  • Xena Illuminated

    "Xena Illuminated", 2021, monotype, ink and watercolor on paper, 18" x 14"
  • Peony October 3

    "Peony October 3", 2021, monotype, ink on paper, 19" x 15" paper size
  • Sunflower September 30

    "Sunflower September 30", 2021, monotype, ink on paper, 19" x 15" paper size
  • Xena September Morning

    "Xena September Morning", 2021, monotype, ink on paper, 19" x 15" paper size

Contemporary Realities

These paintings explore an opposing situation: contemporary people and objects and a limited palette and composition. The human figure is a fascinating subject and I continue to explore it because of the potential for self-reflection and individual response of the viewer. The limited palette only contains titanium white, yellow ochre, indian red, and ivory black to achieve every hue and value seen. By reducing the palette, decisions are reduced to warm or cool and light or dark.

  • Precious Cargo

    painting of two geese guarding a grenade in a nest
    "Precious Cargo", oil on linen, 24" x 24", 2015
  • Self Portrait

    "Self Portrait", oil on canvas mounted on wood, 20" x 18", 2009
  • Penny

    painting of a woman in a chair with her dog at her feet
    "Penny", oil on linen, 48" x 50", 2017
  • Glance

    "Glance", oil on linen, 24" x 24", 2017
  • Cookout

    painting of a woman outside in a chair at night with a beer
    "Cookout", oil on linen, 38" x 30", 2016
  • Self Portrait in Blue

    portrait of the artist with sun on half her face and blue grey hair
    "Self Portrait in Blue", oil on linen, 14" x 11", 2018
  • Trio

    "Trio", oil on linen, 12" x 12", 2018
  • Pink Shower Cap

    painting of a woman in a bathroom with a pink shower cap on
    "Pink Shower Cap", oil on linen, 8" x 10", 2018
  • Fluffy Cow

    "Fluffy Cow", oil on shellacked paper, 4" x 4.5", 2018
  • Piggy Rockwell

    "Piggy Rockwell", oil on shellacked paper, 4" x 4.5", 2018

Endless Narrative

These figurative oil paintings were completed with the intention of creating suggestive narratives.  Color, shapes, and composition are explored alongside the psychological state of the figures. The positions of the objects and people selected are intentional and serve to move viewers to imagine their meaning.