Blending realism with impressionistic light and color, she layers her landscapes, still life's, figurative works and florals with luminous atmosphere. Contemporary scenes along with images which have remained as vital memories from her past in the Hungarian village of Losonc fill her canvases. Preferring to paint primarily in oil and oil washes, although occasionally working in other media such as pastel and watercolor, she follows a disciplined daily painting schedule. Inspired by an image, she renders her impression as quickly as possible, focusing on light, atmosphere and mood.
Hues are mixed as needed.
Preferring to work by day, but having the studio lighting to enable work to be done on gray, over-cast days and at night, she works through a painting one piece at a time. She has been known to get out of bed and paint whenever solutions to painting problems occur. In the 1950's, at age 18 and with her father's encouragement, she immigrated to the United States where she continued her studies at the Chicago Art Institute. After completion of her studies, Claire worked for a brief period in the field of commercial art. Between 1952 and 1955, she studied with such professionally inspiring artists Cilfone, Turtle, Grant, Eccles and Vickery.