University of Oregon Bachelor of Fine Arts (BAF) student Sarah Refvem sits in front of a self portrait in her studio apartment Thursday, September 29. Refvem’s paintings are featured in the WOW Hall’s Lobby Art Gallery through October. (Michael Ciaglo/Oregon Daily Emerald)
Sarah Refvem, 23, paints the back of a fresh canvas to tighten it up before the real work on the painting starts at her Millrace studio on Tuesday, October 4. Although she has unfinished work scattered around her studio, Refvem works on each piece for only about 15 minutes before switching to a new painting to keep her ideas fresh. (Michael Ciaglo/Oregon Daily Emerald)
Sarah Refvem examines her freshly sealed canvas before moving on to continue an in-progress painting. Although Refvem shares her Millrace studio space with five other students, she almost always has the space to herself. (Michael Ciaglo/Oregon Daily Emerald)
BFA student Sarah Refvem uses oil and acrylic paint that she carries around in a briefcase to paint her pieces. (Michael Ciaglo/Oregon Daily Emerald)
Bachelor of Fine Arts student Sarah Refvem paints from photographs but likes to see her painting as simple shapes instead of a bunch of faces as she finds it easier to focus on small details rather than full faces. (Michael Ciaglo/Oregon Daily Emerald)
Sarah Refvem spends time finalizing a face by painting on bits of color that act as shadow and highlight details. “My friends always tell me I look angry when I paint,” Refvem says. “But I’m not angry, I’m just focused.” (Michael Ciaglo/Oregon Daily Emerald)
Sarah Refvem examines her palate of paint to determine the color of her next paint brush stroke. Working from old photographs she finds in thrift stores, Refvem has been bringing new life to mundane pictures on her canvas. (Michael Ciaglo/Oregon Daily Emerald)
Sarah Refvem hangs a painting in the WOW Hall Lobby Art Gallery Sunday, Oct.2. Her paintings will be on display in the gallery through the month of October. Although she has become more recognized by the Eugene art community recently, Refvem hopes to focus on her BFA program during the year and avoid some of the stress that comes with preparing for and hanging gallery shows. (Michael Ciaglo/Oregon Daily Emerald)
