Aesthetic Statement
As a child I was struck by the landscapes of J.M.W. Turner and his profoundly beautiful understanding of light. As I’ve matured and learned more about Turner’s thinking, his determination and clarity stand out as foundations of his success. I attempt to emulate his drive in capturing what he felt when he looked at something. Although Turner was primarily a landscape artist and the most prevalent subject matter in my work is portraiture, the same principles apply. When I create a portrait, I get to know someone on a much deeper level, much like Turner got to know the land he painted. Portraiture causes me to truly notice every detail about a sitter – the subtle qualities they express that I may not always pick up on in other situations – and glorify those intricacies.
I often break down the human face into planes or splotches of pure color like Xenia Hausner, then see how the parts can add up to make the whole. This technique effectively depicts mood and utilizes the physicality of the paint to hint at three-dimensionality. I also admire the work of Peter Doig, who says, “When you start out, you make a painting by adding. As time goes on you realize it’s what you leave out that’s important.” When painting a portrait I strive to focus on only the most important and lasting aspects of a person’s deeper reality – a few fascinating details – and let the rest fall into obscurity.
I find detail to be one of the most interesting facets of both life and art. The small spot on the canvas where the eye loves to linger or the carefully observed nuance that pushes a painting from acceptable to dynamic are to me the cruxes of painting! I look for such small victories in every piece I make. Since my art is most often based on observation, I am satisfied when I have captured something more honestly than in previous pieces. However, I often find that despite my best efforts at consistency, such moments are seemingly stumbled upon accidentally. I hope to turn these happy accidents into habit as I grow as an artist.
There is not one process I use to make my work, rather each piece calls for its own. Often an artwork can be a quick observation or glimpse where I lay down areas of pure color freely. Other work calls for building up many layers over a long period of time and requires new thought at each stage. Oil paint is my favorite medium because of its freedom, inherent possibilities, and capacity to convey the small touches that I love. It can also be very quick, direct, and forgiving. I have explored several other mediums such as gouache, which I used on a series of small, India-inspired miniature paintings. This opaque watercolor medium allows me to be precise and use bold colors on small, richly detailed pieces. The way of viewing these works is not to stare at them from afar as they hang on a wall behind glass, but to hold them close like book illuminations in order to examine their intricacies and to interact with them.
Beauty is an important quality I like to consider while making my work. When I halt my buzzing thoughts and remain silent, I find it everywhere. I then try to capture this moment as a way of immortalizing it. Before starting a piece, I often think about my motives – is what I am about to paint aimed at exalting myself as an artist or is it intended to express some higher quality, such as beauty? The latter yields better results because its foundation is firmly planted in truth. As said by Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot, “Beauty in art is truth bathed in an impression received from nature. I am struck upon seeing a certain place. While I strive for conscientious imitation, I yet never for an instant lose the emotion that has taken hold of me.” I try to live and work by Corot’s words.
I hope the viewer gleans that such small moments and observations are worth their time and remembrance. I try to leave content subtle or secondary to the aesthetic aspects of the piece. I respect the viewers’ intelligence, allowing space for them to figure things out on their own. I want my work to hint or suggest rather than yell. I believe the world is in need of a stronger appreciation of beauty, not just as a retreat from life’s ugliness, but as a way of seeing life as beautiful.
Bronwen Myers
