Maria Nidia Branco left Africa for Portugal in 1979. Now living in the U.S. since 2007, and residing in Mt Laurel, Branco brought memories of living in Africa and Portugal with her.
While living in Portugal, Branco learned various painting techniques. According to Branco’s exhibit announcement, she had her first art exhibit on her 50th birthday and she has not stopped showing her work since then.
Her paintings, displayed at the Mt. Laurel Library, bring recollections of Portuguese kitchens as well as African and Portuguese landscapes.
“I don’t consider myself an artist. I am just curious,” Branco said while deciding where to hang her African-influenced paintings.
She said there is a sense of history behind all of her paintings, pointing out the canvas with earth tone colors, pottery and fruits represent the kitchens in Portuguese castles.
“Those are how kitchens looked,” she said.
Various images randomly pop into her head, and she paints them by memory, she said.
From the beaches of Portugal to African culture, Branco uses acrylic and oil paints to recreate her memories on canvas. She said she learned her painting techniques in Portugal where she also learned to paint porcelain, tiles and clay.
She said when she started learning how to paint with oils, her teacher warned her of its difficulty. But she didn’t care.
“My teacher said, ‘It’s going to be tough.’ I said I didn’t care. I wanted to do it. From there I started doing my own,” she said.
“When I do things, I put a lot of inspiration using the things I love” and expressing them with art, she said.
Some of Branco’s pieces are for sale, but she said the paintings that are numbered are the ones she is willing to part with. As for prices, she does not have any set until an interested buyer contacts her.
“They are valuable. It’s my creativity,” she said as she hung the final painting up for display.
For more information on Branco’s display at the library, visit www.mtlaurel.lib.nj.us.
