Sunday, April 26, 2009

More on Squeak...

I neglected to mention in my previous note that Ms. Carnwath is a philosopher. She asks and answer big questions for herself in her paintings and invites others to do the same. Transformation is the key word here and,basically, all processes lead to internal change. Painting creates a language, an archetypal language that transforms, and her work bears witness to the process. This work is a case of inner becoming outer and outer being transformed by inner. I cannot say more.

Saturday, April 25, 2009

On Squeak Carnwath

Every artist knows that there are some you resonate with and some you don't. I resonate with Squeak Carnwath's work and I encourage any interested persons to link to her web site- or better yet, go see her exhibit( if you live in the Bay Area of Calif. Her exhibit of 40 pieces opened today and I was there shortly after it opened. Large canvases mostly, full of words and color squares and symbols. But it is how she puts it all together. The pieces are multi-layered, done with oil and alkyd resins, mostly large. But what I love most is that I see her mind on canvas- not through a specific image, but through the collaboration of text, pattern, and potent symbols . She is a process painter and allows the viewer to not only see her process, but to respond with his/ her own set of experiences. The complexity of her pieces confuses some. I, however, love the ins and outs and texture and edge and disappearing forms. Well, you guessed it- this is how I paint and I felt inspired to rush back to my studio and work. I did and now I am on a food break. Happy painting to you- and don't forget to say hello!

Friday, April 17, 2009

Favorites 2008-9
This alburm of paintings represennts some of my work of the last year....

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Just Finished! And what a process!

I started this piece, titled What's In A Dress? as a black & white pastel drawing about 3 to 4 years back, stashed it as a possible for a time when I could dig into the issues of working with representation in a symbolic way with pastel, which I find quite difficult these days.
This piece went through many transitions when I started working with it in color last year. It is done on rag drawing paper and had no tooth. I was able to work it for awhile, but found the color sentimental and too rainbow sherbet for my current aesthetic taste ( in other words, too pretty!). I surrounded the dress with black gesso that had aluminum oxide added into it . This gave the paper tooth and I launched into incorporating text into the piece. ( Titles have always been an important part of my work process and I have recently decided it was appropriate to incorporate text into my pieces. Well, this isn't an easy process, because text needs to be integrated into the piece as well as have some suggested meaning. After several more shifts, which included spraying acrylic paint onto the piece, adjusting elements of the dress, incorporating another layer that included a sense of night sky with constellations- well, I think it is done.

Thursday, April 9, 2009

More workshops? I dunno

I love doing workshops; I have, however done 3 already this year and they do take alot of energy. I have one scheduled in Mendocino next month- another pastel intensive and I do hope that workshop has enough enrollment. What a fabulous village is Mendo- never seems to change- except last year the wonderful Zimmer Gallery shut its doors- after 30 years I am told- t'was the best gallery for pastels that I have seen. The director really loved the vibrancy and versatility. Just when I finally got him interested in my work, he said he couldn't take me on 'cause he was closing the gallery down. Well, on to better sites I think!

My DVC Gallery Reception

Here it is April 9 and I have been trying to upload a slideshow of my opening reception- couldn't do it so here is the link to the show. Images can fill the screen so I hope this process works 'cause I is real tired.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/miramwhite/sets/72157616560196820/show/