Tracy Nelson
SaddleBrooke Fine Arts Guild member Theresa Poalucci is an accomplished artist and active community member in the Tuscan area and within SaddleBrooke. Theresa describes her artwork as “a journey of discovery, with its own emotions and energy. My goal is to capture a single, clear moment that allows viewers to escape daily stresses and connect with the beauty of that instant. Through my art, I hope to offer a small, peaceful retreat into the natural world’s timeless wonder.”
Her journey in the arts started as a child when she painted with her mom who was also an artist. Her love for creating fine art continued as a hobby throughout her working career as a publisher of a group of community newspapers. After retirement, art became a full-time hobby and business. “I was so happy to finally have time to concentrate on my art. The problem soon became that I was creating too much art, and I either had to buy another house to display it in or, better yet, start to sell.”
Theresa began showing her art at festivals in Tucson and Phoenix. This led to her being invited into local galleries and being juried into local exhibitions. “It had not originally been my intent to have a business, but things kept growing. Also, my style was evolving. I started with acrylics and alcohol ink, but I mostly now do digital art, which fits in very nicely with utilizing the programs I used when I was working as a graphic artist and a writer.”
She explains her process as “combining the themes of the high desert with a fascination for the future, especially the evolving technological world. I blend nature’s wonder with digital tools, ‘painting with pixels’ and using photos as well to capture and enhance my vision.” Her process begins with crafting a composition, using a computer screen as a canvas. She combines photos or scans of hand-drawn or painted elements into the piece.
After creating the foundation, she adds finishing touches with pixel-based painting and experiments with art filters. Finally, she refines the colors to complete what she terms a “mixed media digitized original.” She sends the final computerized file to a professional printer who prints most of her art on acrylic.
Showing at Absolutely Art Gallery, SAAG at La Encantada, Desert Artisans in Tucson, and at K. Newby Gallery in Tubac keeps her busy. Her digital pieces have won both national and international awards and recognition.
She believes in giving back and volunteers for both the SaddleBrooke Fine Arts Guild and the Southern Arizona Arts Guild. She is a member of professional arts organizations as well, including the National Association of Digital Artists. Theresa writes a column in the Oro Valley Style Magazine each month. You can see more of Theresa’s work by visiting her website at www.artisttheresapoalucci.com where she publishes a blog, offers beginning art classes, and lists current exhibitions she is in.