The Art of
Looking Closer
Paintings that reveal the stories around us.
Finding meaning in the familiar.
I paint the places, objects, and moments that often go unnoticed—from rural landscapes and weathered farm buildings to motorcycles and urban streets. My work explores the character, history, and quiet stories found in everyday life.
Exhibiting nationally and regionally
Gato Gordo Gallery
Miami, Florida
International juried exhibition
Freeport Art Museum
Freeport, Illinois
Juried regional exhibition
Cedarburg Art Museum
Cedarburg, Wisconsin
Regional juried exhibition
Composition. Atmosphere. Story.
My background in fine art and decades of graphic design sharpened my attention to structure and balance. Painting allows me to combine that discipline with observation and intuition, giving overlooked subjects a sense of presence.
Paintings
Rural landscapes, working places, motorcycles, animals, and the unexpected details that carry a story.
For availability, pricing, or additional photographs, please inquire directly.
About Paula Hare
Painting the stories we pass by.
I am a representational oil painter with a BFA from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee and more than three decades of experience as a graphic designer, illustrator, and creative director.
Drawing and visual storytelling have been central to my professional life. Today, those same skills inform the way I organize a composition, interpret light, and discover meaning in ordinary places and objects.
Working en plein air and in the studio, I am drawn to rural landscapes, agricultural settings, motorcycles, animals, and urban scenes. I look for unusual juxtapositions and details that suggest a larger narrative.
My paintings have been selected for regional, national, and international juried exhibitions and are held in private and corporate collections.
Artist Statement
I am interested in the stories that exist within familiar places and objects. A weathered barn, a quiet stretch of road, a motorcycle engine, or a fleeting change in light can reveal something about the people and histories connected to it.
My experience in graphic design and creative direction gave me a strong foundation in composition, drawing, and visual communication. Those principles continue to guide my painting, but I also leave room for discovery as a work develops.
Painting both outdoors and in the studio, I often work with a restrained palette and an emphasis on atmosphere. I am drawn to unexpected relationships of shape, light, and color that give ordinary subjects their own sense of character.
Ultimately, I want each painting to invite a second look—to encourage viewers to find meaning in something they might otherwise have passed by.
Exhibitions & Awards
Selected juried exhibitions, awards, residencies, and professional memberships.
2026 highlights
Gato Gordo Gallery · Miami, Florida
Freeport Art Museum · Freeport, Illinois
Cedarburg Art Museum · Cedarburg, Wisconsin
Honeywell Foundation Fine Art Competition · Wabash, Indiana
Core Artspace · Denver, Colorado
Adams County Arts Council · Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
Gainesville Fine Arts Association · Gainesville, Florida
Heyde Center for the Arts · Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin
Cedarburg Cultural Center · Artist in Residence, August
2025 highlights
Heartland Art Club · St. Louis, Missouri
Springfield Art Association · Springfield, Illinois
Sault Area Art Center · Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan
Whitewater Arts Alliance · Honorable Mention
Solo Exhibition · Sierzant, Cedarburg, Wisconsin
Selected awards
Best of Historic Buildings · Plymouth Plein Air, 2024
Spirit Award · Menomonee Falls Plein Air, 2024
Best Nocturne · Waukesha Plein Air, 2023
Honorable Mention · Plymouth Plein Air, 2023
People's Choice · The Big Show, Grafton, 2023
Third Place · Historic Third Ward Plein Air, 2017
Professional affiliations
Wisconsin Visual Artists
Cedarburg Artists Guild
Oil Painters of America
American Women Artists
Heartland Art Club
Selected record. Confirm active memberships and final exhibition details before publishing.
News & Notes
My Teddy selected for Gato Gordo Gallery
My Teddy, an oil portrait of a rescue cat, was selected for an international juried exhibition in Miami, Florida.
Two paintings selected by Freeport Art Museum
The Final Story of Glenn's Barn and Out to Pasture were selected for a juried exhibition in Freeport, Illinois.
Cedarburg Cultural Center residency
Paula Hare was named an August 2026 Artist in Residence at the Cedarburg Cultural Center.
From Humble Beginnings recognized in Plymouth
The painting received the Best of Historic Buildings award at Plymouth's plein air competition.
Contact
Inquiries & opportunities
For artwork availability, acquisitions, gallery representation, exhibitions, or professional inquiries, please get in touch.
Email: paula831@gmail.com
Based in southeastern Wisconsin. Exhibiting regionally and nationally.
Start a conversation
For inquiries about paintings, commissions, or exhibition opportunities, email the studio directly.
Email Paula Hare →