Monique Straub

Oil on Canvas

New to ENCORE 2024!

About The Artist

A painter for over thirty years, I enjoy bringing everyday scenes to life in oil paint. Formal training in technical illustration, art history, and commercial photography have taken a back seat to a more whimsical style. I find interest in every day scenes, the shapes and colors of things mostly, everything from a simple landscape, to a clump of tomatoes at Trader Joes.

I'm primarily a studio artist, because I don't like bugs and dirt, and I snap reference photos everywhere I go. I began my art festival journey working in soft pastel on sandpaper. Once I realized working large was my jam, I switched to oil on canvas, maintaining the same color palettes and stylized strokes. From my twin studios in San Clemente and La Quinta, I paint full time, five days per week. I'm usually in the studio by 9am each day, and I warm up by maintaining my own website, social media accounts, accounting and shipping. Actual painting takes place from about noon to 4pm.

I approach each of my paintings as an adventure. The result is as surprising for me, as I hope it is for you.