Photo: Melissa Rose
Gestural Painter in New York City
Artist's Statement
As a gestural painter in New York City, I immerse myself in the delicate balance between representation and abstraction. My journey begins with revisiting images through various media, sizes, and formats, where I explore different ways to visually express equivalents to motion, sound, smell, and touch.
I begin my artistic process by creating small color studies from life, an information-gathering stage in which I record shapes and colored light. In my studio, I work from memory captured in my studies, developing large-scale compositions.
Creative Process
Creating collages from paintings—and vice versa—has become an essential part of my exploration as a gestural painter. By incorporating previous paintings, clothing, and various objects into my compositions, I introduce an intriguing concept of compressed time. This re-contextualization shifts the meaning and function of each element, inviting the viewer into a new perspective.
Dynamic Interplay
When chance placements occur, they reveal the boundaries and ambiguities of space, creating a dynamic interplay that energizes the artwork. As the eye navigates through these shapes, I uncover multiple viewpoints, serving as a metaphor for my own high-energy activity in a world that is perpetually in motion.
In essence, my work as a gestural painter reflects a continuous dialogue with my environment, revealing the vibrant complexity of life through brushstrokes and color. Contact me to learn more.