ARTIST'S BIOGRAPHY Close this window

Floy Zittin has been interested in drawing and in nature studies since she was a child. She majored in biology in college but became interested in painting while spending a summer in Japan. She began her career as a biological illustrator working on a taxonomic project for her Master's thesis. She was offered other illustrating assignments at the marine laboratory and was soon working on college textbooks. From 1976 to 1988 she was on contract with the National Museum of Natural Sciences of Canada providing drawings for a field guide.

Floy's husband is also a biologist and his career took them to British Columbia where they lived for ten years. Part of that time was spent in an isolated fishing village where Floy taught herself to paint by working on watercolor portraits of fish with the help and criticism of the fishery biologists.

After returning to California in 1983 Floy has become active in the art community in the Bay Area. Her paintings have won numerous awards in local shows and have been accepted in regional competitions. She is currently pursuing her own studies in watercolor as well as teaching adult painting classes. Ms. Zittin is currently a member of the Santa Clara Valley Watercolor Society.

ARTIST'S STATEMENT
In my paintings I try to combine an accurate representation of an animal or person in its natural surroundings with the spontaneous feeling of the watercolor medium. I began my career as a biological illustrator and I still like my paintings to say something about a particular animal or habitat. Because I live on the edge of a major metropolitan area as well as of a major bird migration flyway, I particularly enjoy portraying the interplay of humans and the birds of this region.

CONTACT INFO
To schedule a viewing or to inquire about purchasing, please call 408-253-3258 or send her an email. You may view additional work on the artist's site at www.floyzittin.com.

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