A Look Into Lehigh Valley Artist Wendy L. Wolf’s Whimsical World

Stepping into Saucon Valley artist ’s home is like entering an enchanted forest. Whimsical imagery in vibrant color brightens every nook and cranny of the artist’s world--including her house, her yard and her studio. The daughter of stained glass artist parents, Wolf has been painting for 16 years, during which her chosen medium has evolved in the most serendipitous ways.

“I never had an interest in painting, preferring arts like pottery and sculpture. But one bad snowstorm I was trapped inside and couldn’t leave the house. I started painting on my walls--which led to painting murals--to eliminate cabin fever, and realized I was pretty good it,” explained Wolf.

Wolf’s work contains elements of whimsy, though not necessarily fantasia, and not by design.

“I love nature, history, castles, and I am self-taught from Renaissance paintings, all of which is incorporated in my work,” she said. “My paintings border on fantasy, but they aren’t ‘fantastic,’ and never, ever mean-spirited.”

When a broken ankle left her unable to climb ladders and paint murals, Wolf produced her first “small painting.” This painting led to a series, “Medieval Menagerie,” intended for adults and characterized by castles, gargoyles, multiple levels (such as hidden images and quotes), and great detail.

“I think of it as ‘moving around my castle.’ In my head I see the whole landscape, but I love the itty bitty things, so in subsequent paintings I had to narrow down and focus on one scene, taking elements from the original and expanding upon them,” said Wolf. “Every painting has hidden aspects which come out by themselves; the longer you look, the more you find.”

In Wolf’s mind, every painting has a story behind it, so it was a natural progression for her to start creating customized “story paintings,” which tell the tale of one’s life on canvas.

“Story paintings are visual tributes to a person, business, organization, group, school, et cetera, or intended to commemorate an event or specific period in one’s life,” Wolf explains.

Wolf has created story paintings for families, Klein Farms Dairy, Plumsteadville Grange, and schools such as Warren County Tech, and Easton Area and high schools.

“The paintings and prints make great gifts for graduation or end of year celebrations, and each is personalized with hidden items relevant to the recipient,” said Wolf.

Additionally, Wolf has licensed a number of images from her “Garden” series for use as wallpaper murals and jigsaw puzzles and launched a “Heritage” line, featuring children of various ethnicities, which allows parents to commemorate the adoption of their children.

For more information on Wendy L. Wolf, visit www.LehighValleyArtist.com.

For more information on the artist's upcoming exhibit at , visit www.SauconValleyConservancy.org.

A reception to mark the opening of the exhibit will be held at the homestead on Monday, June 6, from 7 to 9pm.