"I am a painter dedicated to portraying the beauty and dignity of simple everyday life, capturing moments that are often overlooked by others," begins Joyce Werwie Perry's bio.

"I have always felt a need to record the way we relate to other human beings."

Perry's motivation behind her art is evident in the works currently displayed at Gallery -30- in the Sewickley Herald office building. She works in a variety of mediums, mostly oils but also more recently, canvas, paper and wax.

Each piece relates to the next in that they all seem to use the complexity of a struggle between realistic and abstract elements within the work to show the simplicity of everyday life, especially how people relate to others.

Not only subject, but textures, colors and techniques --highlighted by "rapid application and detraction of oil with knives," which she said she developed to "add immediacy and freshness" to her work -- each do their part to evoke a response in the viewer.

"Exploring the mystery of human existence and recording how we relate to one another as human beings is the force behind my work," Perry said in an artist's statement.

Perry earned an associate of science degree in art from the Community College of Allegheny County in 1997 and studied independently under Stephen Hankin. She is a member of the Pittsburgh Society of Artists and the South Hills Art League and is a former vice-president/executive board member of the Associated Artists of Pitts-burgh.

Perry also teaches her own knife technique at her gallery, le Poire located in Crafton, Sweetwater Center for the Arts and Touchstone, located near Uniontown.

Perry's work will be on display at Gallery -30- through the end of April. The gallery is located at 533 Beaver St.