2. Winter Trees200718”x24”Watercolor & Colored Pencil Winter Trees was a return to nature for me. I had been working on more faith based symbolism that did not reference nature. However, nature is very much part of my upbringing and faith, and is a place I was glad to return in my art. This piece & Biltmore would set the stage for my upcoming MAT work.
3. Biltmore200724”x18”Watercolor This painting was created from a photo I had taken at the Biltmore. I was so taken with the texture and movement of the vine. It reminded me of Jack & The Bean Stock. I tried to simplify the rest of the picture so the vine/tree would be the focus of the work. This picture was a step out of what I’d been doing, because it is only created using watercolor.
4. Landscapes of My Youth MAT 521 Fall Semester 2008 For my first semester of grad school, I created a series of paintings dealing with the landscapes of my youth. The style reflects many ideas & ideals that are a part of who I am as a person & an artist. The stained glass appearance that is referenced by bright colors and black outlining is connected to my faith. It is also referencing my desire for structure and order. The fabric/quilt appearance is in reference to my Appalachian background, and the quilts I saw being produced by my mother, grandmother, and aunts. The “quilt-ish” feel to the work adds a feeling of comfort and security.
5. Green & Gold200818”x24”Watercolor &Colored Pencil This was the first in my series. The juxtaposition of the structured and patterned foothills play nicely against the loose handling of the sky. The groupings of three are referencing the Trinity. Though it is highly stylized, the image creates the feeling of rolling hills of Appalachia.
6. Dismal Sunset200818”x24”Watercolor &Colored Pencil This work is my favorite from the semester. I love the colors, patterns, and composition. It was a balance to push myself with greater colors & patterns without going overboard, and becoming too busy. This is collaged together however. The original sky was distracting, and I added two more boulders at the bottom of the page.
7. Pond of Life I200818”x24”Watercolor & Colored Pencil Pond of Life 1 is a work that has movement, but is centered and peaceful. The softer/lighter colors I feel add to the tranquil feel. The three trees reference the crucifixion & the Trinity. The four layers give it a pieced together feel, but it is a solid sheet of watercolor paper.
8. Pond of Life II200818”x24”Watercolor &Colored Pencils This piece was created after the midterm assessment. Pond of Life I received many positive remarks, but the main issue with it was being overly symmetrical. I liked the image, so I decided to recreate it & pushing the asymmetry. I do feel that this image is more dynamic then the original.
9. Pieces200914”x18”Watercolor & Colored Pencil I wanted to further push the quilt concept in my work. Sectioning the work into a 9-up is reminiscent of my mother & grandmothers quilt tops. I feel the work reads well as a whole, but each individual piece is interesting.
10. THE FOUR SEASONS MAT 521 Spring Semester 2009 I wanted to continue with nature in my work, and felt that the four seasons could be an interesting topic. I continued to use “quilt-ish” elements within my work. I also wanted to emphasize the juxtaposition of structured & loose handling of the materials. Though I like these pieces, I’ll return to landscapes in my next series.
11. Fall 1200914”x 18”Watercolor & Colored Pencil This piece was a part of my original sketches for the semester, but was the only one produced. After the first critique, I decided to go in a different direction. I do like this piece, and plan on possibly finishing the series some day.
12. Winter200914”x18”Watercolor &Colored Pencil The use of salt within my painting allowed for snowflake markings to appear. This is a technique I use often, but it creates a greater impact within this piece. The bands of color in the center area represent the drifting and blowing of the snow.
13. Spring200914”x18”Watercolor & Colored Pencil The negative branch was one of my favorite elements of the series. It allowed the watercolor background to be framed within the space. I used salt and plastic wrap to create the rain/watery background.
14. Summer200914”x18”Watercolor &Colored Pencil The intense colors & patterns of the frame & medallion rest upon the simplistic background wash. I used wide bands of color in a diagonal to represent the sun beating down. The medallion, in this case, comes across as the sun.
15. Fall II200914” x 18”Watercolor & Colored Pencil I enjoy Fall 11 a great deal, and feel it is as strong as Fall 1. This work’s color and pattern are its strength, and I feel Fall 1 is stronger in movement and composition. I would like to continue the series like Fall 1, and display the work side by side.
16. The Four Seasons200918”x24”Watercolor & Colored Pencil I had been encouraged to go more abstracted with my work while developing the four seasons series. This piece combines many of the visual elements from the rest of the series into a composition I’d not normally create. I believe it was a successful step outside my box without losing my artistic voice.