Sunday, January 25, 2009

Artist Statement

Aerial Boundary V, 2009, oil on canvas, 12 x 12 inches
© 2009 Diane McGregor

My work has been evolving at a disturbingly fast pace -- the ethereal layers of blended mists are converging into raw paint, edges are opening up, and through a desire to "simplify" more complexity is exposed. I felt I needed to write a new artist statement to clarify this work that seems to be emerging on its own time schedule.

Conferring With the Moon, 2009, oil on canvas, 30 x 30 inches
© 2009 Diane McGregor

This is my new Artist Statement:
My work is informed by Nature -- specifically the landscape, the weather, the seasons. These images are not literal representations of a place or environment, but a synthesis of shifting viewpoints and moods. Painting is my way of going beyond the arguments of the conscious mind, allowing the brushstroke to be a quiet reflection of each moment. The painting, then, becomes a record of a solitary, contemplative practice that is both private and shared.

I begin each painting by methodically weaving together horizontal and vertical brushstrokes. This repetitive technique generates a grid-like structure during the very earliest stages of the painting. As the composition gradually emerges from the matrix of layered brushstrokes, a subtle balance of form, color, and texture is intuitively recognized and responded to. The process is extremely meditative, taking me back and forth between emptiness and fullness, surrender and control.

8 comments:

Seth said...

Stunning pieces. And I love the fact that your statement includes info about your process as well.

ArtPropelled said...

I love both your paintings and your statement. "The process is extremely meditative, taking me back and forth between emptiness and fullness, surrender and control" .....I relate to this statement so well.

Diane McGregor said...

Dear Seth and Robyn,
Thanks so much for your comments. I really appreciate the feedback on my statement.

Marina Broere said...

These are extremely beautiful paintings! I can see they are more textural as the ones before, stronger as in: less soft. They remind me of flying over scattered clouds and catching glimpses of the world below.

And a great update of your statement!

Diane McGregor said...

Yes, Marina, these paintings have a lot more texture, and less softly blended areas. I was getting burned out from blending! It was so labor intensive. This work is freeing me up a bit more. Thanks for your input!

Nicholas Wilton said...

They are at once ambiguous and then specific--I can almost feel something coming out of these-the next set of paintings-possibly-very transitory in feel--glimpse of movement, out the window, far below.

Nicholas Wilton said...
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Diane McGregor said...

Thanks, Nicholas, what a poetic comment! I feel very hopeful about this direction.