Manya Drobnack is a Mercer Island resident who hails from an interesting European background; her grandmother was a Russian artist who studied at the Imperial School of Art in St. Petersburg at the turn of the century. With this interesting heritage, Ms. Drobnack has been exposed to the work of many early European abstractionists. To that influence is added her experience of living abroad for many years in Indonesia, Hong Kong, South Africa and Australia. Her paintings, ranging from 24"x18" to 72"x48", combine elements of Color-Field painting with organic patterns and plankton-like forms that feel like happy, self contained playground worlds. And though her paintings emit a care-freejoie de vivre, her serious side has kept her hard at work in workshops and classes with respected artists including New York legend Al Loving, Mark Takamichi Miller, and Maxi Power. Ms. Drobnack's work continues as an arts administrator: board member for Pratt Fine Arts Center, where she is current President and in the past serving also on the Board of Pilchuck Glass School.


Manya Drobnack
"All About Red"
2003
Oil on canvas
30"x40".