Filled with color and brought to life through confident, expressive brushwork, Wisconsin artist Paula Swaydan Grebel’s paintings capture quiet moments of everyday life. Light-drenched rooms, intimate corners, and thoughtfully arranged objects become rich visual experiences. Her paintings balance observation with interpretation, transforming familiar surroundings into something both personal and unexpected.

Born in California, Swaydan Grebel received her BFA from California State University, Long Beach, with an emphasis in figure drawing and a minor in textiles. After moving to Wisconsin in the 1990s, she continued her education by studying with leading perceptual painters whose work challenged traditional ideas of observational painting. Her broad knowledge of art history and theory also informs her distinctive approach to color, composition, and space.

FLECK

Oil on Canvas

10 x 12” (Image)

12 x 14” (Framed)

$1,950.00

“Art history is fundamental to my identity as a painter. Through years of study and practice, these influences have become internalized in my work.”

-Paula Swaydan Grebel

Paul Cezanne, in particular, has been a key influence; I am inspired by his use of tones as forces and his manipulation of space and scale to create dynamic tension through shifting volumes.

-Paula Swaydan Grebel

When painting an interior world, I respond to the depth of color, shape, design, and intrigue. My process involves extensive preparation, including multiple drawings and color studies.

-Paula Swaydan Grebel

“After this period of observation and rethinking, a final design takes shape, allowing details to emerge and be placed with specific purpose. The elements must feel right: the space, unity, movement, relationship, scale, and proportions.”

-Paula Swaydan Grebel

ROOM FOR MORANDI

Oil on Panel

12 x 9” (Image)

14 1/4 x 11” (Framed)

$1,800.00