Artist Background

     Claudia Wearstler Paeth grew up in Lafayette, Indiana. Her father was an architect at Purdue University and her mother was a school teacher. Coming from a background of artists and musicians, her artistic efforts were encouraged from the time she was very young. By the time she began college, she was steering toward a career in art education. When marriage and children came along before her teaching career did, she began writing fiction stories instead of creating art. It seemed to be a little more practical and a lot less messy, especially with three small children. During those years Claudia enjoyed using her imagination to write children books and even submitted a few to publishers. Then a tug at her heart years later pushed her to return to painting and drawing. She began taking art classes in the evenings and picked up where she had left off. Soon her teachers became her friends and she began to learn about the world of exhibiting artists. Instantly, she felt at home.  She remembered hearing stories about her grandfather, Albert Miller Wearstler, who was an exhibiting artist in Ohio during the depression era. As an artist herself, she understood how he must have felt being recognized for his artistic talents.
     Claudia, along with being an exhibiting artist, is also a high school art teacher hoping to spark creativity in her young students. In her free time she actively pursues her writing and art at her woodland home in a private studio.  Each endeavor continues to be a spiritual journey; unpredictable and full of surprises.

Artist Statement

           In recent years my art has been less about the subject matter and more about expressing what I feel- a spiritual journey. It has manifested by allowing my experiences from the moment to breathe life onto the canvas. It is my awareness of the synchronicity of life. What role do I choose to hold among the rest of the universe? Through my art I have important choices to make in the way I represent myself. Afterwards, I can choose to share those self- expressions with others. In this way art becomes an important tool for healing and self-discovery. 
        Respecting one’s intuitive side is vital to the growth of any artist, but there are many that lack this trust for the ‘self’. Trusting oneself can inspire an artist to go beyond, to have a deeper understanding. It is a means of expressing themselves so they can achieve balance.  Intuitions gut feelings, and raw emotions feed off trust. These are the tools that give the soul a voice. In my own art I honor my intuitions as I paint or draw. As I enjoy an uncharted direction of self -expression, a healing energy takes place. That energy eventually goes back into the ‘oneness’. As I create and share my work, I hope I am helping others by making them think. I hope I inspire them through my unique designs and colors by stirring the imagination. I feel my art is successful if it inspires to be a catalyst for the human imagination.