Polly Podolsky loves painting people; "Whether I’m painting a live model or a faded face on a 1920’s snapshot, there’s always a story behind the eyes".

Polly began her formal training at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago Illinois. After a 12 year career as a commercial artist, she put her brushes down and for the next 15 years enjoyed sharing an antiques restoration business with her husband. When the family moved to Orlando Florida, her desire to paint was rekindled.

She enrolled at the Crealde School of Arts, studying portrait painting with Helen Hickey and attending numerous workshops with Albert Handell and New York painter Gregg Kruetz.

Polly has conducted painting workshops and portrait demonstrations locally and is currently teaching at the Mt. Dora Center for the Arts. She has exhibited her art at major festivals in Florida, winning awards and recognition in shows including Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival and Disney’s Festival of the Masters. She was a charter member of Artworks Orlando Gallery during its existence and is currently being represented by two Galleries in New England as well as a local Orlando Gallery. Some of her commissioned and award winning artwork is owned by Rollins College, the Orange County (Florida) Court House as well as notables such as John Walsh, Rich DeVos and Bob Wesley. Her work is also in privale collections in Washington D.C., Illinois, New York, New Jersey, Iowa, Texas, Virginia, Australia and Germany. Polly’s distinctive and original style has earned her a loyal following and many commissions.

She works exclusively in oil, a medium she feels deliciously at home with, using a variety of underpainting and glazing techniques, and always striving for perfect color.