Brenda Hofreiter of Winter Park is recognized for her clean use of color, powerful compositions, and her ability to capture the scene before her with an authentic sense of place. Painting almost exclusively out-of-doors, or en plein air, she paints the wetlands and tidal marshes of her native Florida, as well as vanishing natural areas of the southern United States. A passionate conservationist, she has been selected by jury as artist-in-residence at state parks in Florida, South Carolina and Georgia, and her artwork is included in their permanent collections. Her artwork also is included in Maitland Art Center's permanent art collection. She has been awarded Signature membership in International Plein Air Painters, the American Impressionist Society, and Plein Air Florida.

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What inspires and influences you?

I admire and am influenced by the work of the California impressionists and oil paintings created from nature on location or en plein air. Sunlight inspires me, and most of my work is about nature, composition, light and color.

Where and when are you the most productive?

Most of my oil paintings are created on location, so really, the world is my studio. I paint at parks, along hiking trails, wilderness areas and even on the side of the road. On good-weather days, I try to be out on site by 9 in the morning. The light remains fairly consistent until after noon, giving me time to really get into the work. Painting in the spring and fall is great because of the wonderful weather, but you can also find me out in the heat of August, as well as the cold of January. From painful experience, I've drawn the line, and now I don't venture out on days over 100 or under 40 or in high winds. On those days, I'm in the studio with finished work, picking out insects, scraping off embedded dirt, signing and varnishing. More time than I like is spent photographing and cataloging, framing, on the computer, entering shows, traveling, and at art festivals and painting competitions.

What are you favorite subjects?

Dramatic light, water, vanishing wilderness or dappled shadows. My favorite scene would be an endless wilderness vista topped with gorgeous summer clouds. Throw in a road or a bit of water and I'm a goner!

How would you describe your work?

I work exclusively in oil. My work straddles the line between realism and impressionism. Lately, it's been leaning more toward impressionism because I am traveling more and need to work smaller and faster.

Education and training: Grove House School in Coconut Grove, Crealde School of Art Fellowship, workshops with nationally known artists.

On the Web: BrendaHofreiter.com.