Lois Gerrish uses a direct painting method utilizing mixed media, acrylics, inks and collaged paper assemblages to create abstract paintings suffused with dream images and esoteric qualities.
Yellow Abstract, 48”x48”
First prize winner at the Fourth Annual Newburyport Art Competition and Exhibition
Lois Gerrish currently resides in Greenland, NH. She was born in Glensfalls, NY and spent her early childhood there. At the age of ten years, her family moved to Rhode Island and since that time she has remained a resident of New England. Lois received her formal art education at the Montserrat College of Art in Beverly, MA where one teacher in particular, Paul Scott, praised what he viewed as Lois’s natural ability to work with plasticity and space. Scott was a highly accomplished abstract expressionist and teacher who had studied under Hans Hoffman at the Art Students’ League in New York City; Scott also served as a secretary and monitor to Hoffman.
After graduating from Montserrat, Lois focused on advanced formal elements of painting by studying privately with Scott and with Samuel Feinstein of Yale University.
Within a short time, Gerrish began creating large abstract paintings. The desire to share these exciting works prompted her to open a co-operative Gallery with nine fellow artists from Montserrat. She directed the gallery for three years. During that time a gallery owner noticed Gerrish’s work and began selling her paintings to large corporations. People also began purchasing Gerrish’s paintings for their personal collections.
From 1976 to 1989, Gerrish’s paintings were displayed in numerous galleries. She received many awards, including first place from the Fourth Annual Newburyport, MA Art Competition and Exhibition which was funded from the Massachusetts Arts Lottery Council.
At the Newburyport Art Association’s 10th Annual Show, the director of the Danforth Museum of Art singled out one of Gerrish’s paintings which resulted in Lois being presented with the award for First Place in Acrylics.
During the 90’s, Lois took a break from her art to pursue a separate business. In the year 2000, she resumed painting and continued with her studies by revisiting Montserrat and attending classes by renowned teacher and artist, Tim Harney at the DeCordova Museum School. Since then, Lois has taken numerous refresher courses at various art institutes. Lois’s current projects involve working with the figure with the goal of incorporating figure with abstraction.