ARTIST: Thelma Confer (Indiana, 1924 - 2013)
TITLE: Still Life with Tomatoes
YEAR: 1960
MEDIUM: oil on canvas board
CONDITION: Few minor scratches/paint losses mostly by the lower edge. No visible inpaint under UV light.
ART SIZE: 14 x 18 inches / 35 x 45 cm
FRAME SIZE: unframed (In-House framing available) (In-House framing available)
SIGNATURE: lower right
PROVENANCE: Indiana State Fair, Fine Art Department Exhibition (has stamp on verso)
LOCATION: This lot is located at our Dania Beach, FL office.
CATEGORY: old antique vintage painting for auction sale online
AD: ART WANTED: Consign, Trade In, Cash Offer
SKU#: 132805
US SHIPPING: $60 + insurance.

BIOGRAPHY:
Thelma Confer earned a B.F.A. in painting in 1968 from Herron School of Art of I.U.Since 1968, she has maintained a studio in Indianapolis where she, for a few years, spent much of her time painting large abstracts and figure compositions. Always a lover of nature, the majority of abstracts reflect her interpretation of the landscape. Figure compositions first started with her interest in portraiture both of which she prefers un-posed, unassuming and in natural surroundings.Mrs. Confer also found time to teach at the Indianapolis Art League (now Art Center) Composition and Design, Basic Painting and Intermediate and Advanced Painting - 1968 until 1993 when she took a leave of absence.Her husband, Byron, was always supportive of her efforts and he, an Indiana native, was delighted when she, a Tennessee native, decided to learn something about the history of Indiana which culminated in a series of oil paintings entitled Indiana History. These "52" Indiana History Paintings were finished prior to the Bicentennial celebrations and were shown at the Indiana State Museum in 1974 and at the Indianapolis Museum of Art in 1976. Sponsored by the Indpls. Art League, in 1977, she was awarded a Certificate of Commendation by the American Association for State and Local History for her "historical and architectural paintings of Indiana's History."Thelma's current interest is primarily in Indiana Parkscapes. She and her husband, Byron, visited all the State Parks in Indiana and experienced the essence of each park. Painting these State Parks has been a great pleasure and is of on-going interest to her.Concurrently, a series of paintings from Indpls. Zoo which started out to be a portrait or two of cute animals developed into a mini-series of animal compositions and zooscapes of approximately 25-30 paintings.To Thelma, art and beauty ore synonymous and she hopes that viewing her art will cause the viewer to feel uplifted. Also, she does not compare her work with others - only with her latest work - because we are all individuals unlike anyone else and with God-given abilities which can only be developed by competing with ourselves.In 2006 she donated 52 Indiana historical paintings to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources to be on display at Indiana State Parks for all to enjoy. She loved the outdoors and animals, especially her cat "White Foot". She was a member of Bethel Missionary Baptist Church which she attended faithfully when her health permitted.