Fleta Monaghan

Fleta Monaghan is founder and director of River’s Edge Studio, a visual arts learning center for adults. She opened 310 ART Gallery in March 2009, and is delighted to exhibit the work of 14 artists from the Asheville, NC area. Fleta specializes in teaching oil and acrylic and composition to all levels. Her studio focus in graduate school was on color, and she has extensive knowledge in this subject.

Call her at 828-776-2716 for information on classes and private consultations for the emerging artist. Go to http://www.fletamonaghan.com/workshops.php for a complete class schedule.

 About her current work:

“I grew up by the Gulf of Mexico, in a Florida wetlands area. The lakes and muck,  trees and tropical flora teemed with animal life of all kinds. There was constant change and movement. The life cycle was always present and visible, succulent and dense. I was outside, in the water most days, living with the fish, turtles, insects, water birds and the alligators too! It was a magical and intense experience that has influenced my visual senses always.

The visible landscape is always a reference point when I begin to paint, giving me grounding. Color adds expression to emotion and spiritual experience.  I have been drawn to the circular shape for many years, and I wonder if this might refer to the natural cycles of the earth, and of birth, death and then rebirth. These thoughts and observances have been at the core of my thinking as this series of paintings evolves. Recent work has focused on the visual concepts of water and space.”