Cheerleaders

Abstract

Acrylic on Canvas, 16" x 22"

Artist Statement

The image of the female body has held artists’ attentions for centuries.

Of course, most of these artists were men. Much of my earlier work attempts to look at desire as it is translated into the pictorial image from a woman’s point of view. I was very interested in the “male gaze” and the idea that imagery designed for a female viewer is relatively untapped in comparison. Eventually, I began to work solely from life, and started to eliminate distortion in my figures. After the birth of my first son, I began to use acrylic paint. This prompted a major shift in technique for me as I moved away from my long relationship with oil in order to avoid exposing my son to chemicals. I began making works that were more abstract in detail, with pouring and dripping, but that were very rigid in composition (ala Chuck Close). These are the works you will find here. The subject matter became more personal for me, as I turned to my family and close friends for inspiration. The images were becoming more and more realistic as my skills as a painter developed.

Following in the footsteps of the Feminist movement in art, I hope to create works that are accessible to all but still intellectually challenging.

My latest painting, while still using acrylic paint, is incorporating found objects, cloth, and felting techniques. I am still looking to my immediate family and my domestic life for inspiration, but I am seeking to move beyond the rigidity and formality of the stretched canvas. Working with cloth stapled directly to wall, I am currently completing a body of work that will be seen more as tapestry than painting.