Conversations with the Coast

After Artisphere (check out my feature in the Greenville journal), I took a little time off from painting - to relax, refresh and refill the well. Nothing makes me feel more inspired than time spent outdoors, especially being in or around the water. Soaking up texture, movement and color in its purest form, I gathered up new ideas and was excited to bring them back to my studio.

I started working on a pair of 36”x36” panels, painting them side by side to create a diptych. I let the layers of ink wash build up organically, using sweeping motions that extended from panel to panel. Sanding down to pull out texture and drawing back in with graphite, I built up a vocabulary of marks. What I’d learned from the left informed decisions I made on the right, and so forth. I loved the challenge of creating two pieces that communicated with each other.

When it comes time to wrap threads, I like to establish a horizon line and abstract from there. Pushing back the deepest points and pulling out the highlights, I build up thread gradients to create moments of interest and structured balance upon the fluid forms beneath. I intentionally wrapped the panels so the threads staggered through, flowing from one piece to the next.

These pieces are special sisters. Titled “Conversations with the Coast”, they breath into one another and the space they get to live in, telling stories of time spent outdoors. I am so thrilled to share that they were collected as a very special anniversary surprise, and cannot believe how perfect they look in their forever home! It’s so incredibly rewarding to know they will be loved and cherished for years to come.