About the artist
My name is Quwatha Valentine. I was born on Valentine's Day in Winston-Salem, NC. I am a graduate of the University of North Carolina with a major in math with art as my elective subject. I am a retired Software Engineer living in beautiful Sun City Summerlin, Las Vegas, NV. I arrived here via VA, TX and CA.
I worked for NASA's space program for 10 years and later for Litton Data Systems in the defense industry as a software engineer .I have studied many different painting techniques using different mediums, being self-taught through many books, video tapes and DVDs.
Since retirement in 1999 I have resumed my painting full time. I have taken workshops and seminars from prominent portrait artists, learning the techniques of the Old Masters. I love painting landscapes, seascapes and portraits, with portraits being my first love. I have done many commissioned portraits and other commissioned work.I paint portraits from life or from photos. I like to get to know the personality of my subject; therefore, when working from photos I require several different poses. I have recently been devoting most of my time to graphite drawing. Drawings which are created with just light and shadow are so dramatic. Black and white drawings offer the viewer a reprieve from the constant world of color. I use only the finest art materials of archival quality.
I worked for NASA's space program for 10 years and later for Litton Data Systems in the defense industry as a software engineer .I have studied many different painting techniques using different mediums, being self-taught through many books, video tapes and DVDs.
Since retirement in 1999 I have resumed my painting full time. I have taken workshops and seminars from prominent portrait artists, learning the techniques of the Old Masters. I love painting landscapes, seascapes and portraits, with portraits being my first love. I have done many commissioned portraits and other commissioned work.I paint portraits from life or from photos. I like to get to know the personality of my subject; therefore, when working from photos I require several different poses. I have recently been devoting most of my time to graphite drawing. Drawings which are created with just light and shadow are so dramatic. Black and white drawings offer the viewer a reprieve from the constant world of color. I use only the finest art materials of archival quality.
