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Restoring an old house is definitely a labor of love. We collapse at night after a long day of physical hard work and the emotional turmoil of the constant disruption of construction. It is not without reason that I began teaching and painting in the midst of this chaos. The visual vignettes that Belle Bard displays to me everyday deserve to be captured. As an artist, they provide me with the starting point or the AHA! factor that compels me to paint these images. It might be the way the light reflects or casts shadows, or streams in the front windows in the afternoon, casting rainbows from the funky old glass panes that make me feel I want to capture that moment. The architecture of the house, proud lady that she is, presents framed visual jewels from each vantage point in the house.
But all is not what meets the eye… The still life objects are artifacts from our personal collections. They are carefully chosen to act as a philosophical vehicle as well as a visual element in the painting. The pottery and china not only add textural pattern contrast; they act as reminders of ancient historical cultures and a continuity of life. Glassware, either as vessel or a mirror or an object can offer visual transformations through transparency, reflection, and enhancements. The flowers and fruits serve as a reminder of the fleeting beauty and fragility of life. Displaying this vanitas element in my paintings encourages the viewer to enter and participate in the formality of the paintings.
I am comfortable to explore the old-fashioned or unfashionable painting genres of still life and domestic interiors, historically considered a feminine pursuit. As a contemporary artist who paints tightly rendered detailed paintings of recognizable objects depicting the comforts of indoor and outdoor domestic life, I hope to offer an intimate visual oasis among our turbulent society.
February, 2005