"...people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel" - Maya Angelo
About Clara Berta
Clara Berta grew up in a culturally rich and stimulating environment, born in a Hungarian enclave in Romania, then moving to Chicago at the age of eleven. She relocated to Los Angeles when she began her education where she received her BA in Psychology from Antioch University.
Through the years, while still pursuing fine art, she also worked as an actress, a model, and started a film location business. At the same time, she married, traveled, grew beautiful gardens and continued to study and paint as well as exploring other media including writing and photography. Berta continues to explore artistic talents through private studies in mixed media with Carol Slade, Annie Wharton, monotype studies with Lynn Bernay and with Ron Pokrasso at the Riverside Museum and Palm Desert Museum.
In recent years, Clara has concentrated on abstract expressionism through painting and unique monotypes. She uses rich layers, elements of mixed media, integrates poetry, photography, printmaking and unconventional materials, sometimes incorporating all in a single piece. She paints with a passion on canvas and wood panels with a varied palette, lush with vibrant color. Her emphasis is on the rich colors and textures of life and spirituality with subtle patterns of light and shadow revealing a deep understanding of the human psyche.
Clara has exhibited widely through the years and her works appear in collections both in the United States and abroad.
Artist Statement
"Each of my mixed media pieces ventures into new territories and brings new discoveries. For example, my piece called Oceans of Life is filled with different materials, fabrics, and photography, and - since I am drawn to the sea - uses passionate blues, and then my favorite burnt umber.
In 2008 I attended the Santa Reparata International School of Art, in Florence, Italy. While there, I gained knowledge of several new techniques such as: Image On, Solar Plate (photopolymer) printmaking, and integrating monoprints into mixed media works.
Since being influenced by the Italian culture, my work has taken a new direction that I express by creating textures through adding layers of torn posters, writings and exotic materials that are recycled into my art. My colors are now rich and earthy, with passionate blues derived from my love for the ocean, since I am a fish (Pisces).
I also took a photography workshop with David Hoptman in Tuscany: The Tuscan Light. My influences have been Robert Rauschenberg and Joseph Cornell’s work.
I love creating collage works and painting with texture. I enjoy working privately with my students and guiding them to create amazing works of art.
My spiritual path contributes to my work, which I now create from a place of peace and compassion. For me, art is healing and plays an important role in my entire life, especially since I love interior design. These feelings are expressed by the lovely English and Zen gardens that surround my home."