Artist Statment for Fine Art
Sophie J. Brown
Why I
paint
I paint because it meets needs on many levels, and because I want to
share this experience by creating images which express what it means to
be alive. I like the silence and contemplative nature of the painting
process, and the way in which the non-verbal language of visual imagery,
for me, allows the imagination to be stimulated by associations, memories
and sense impressions.
Style
I like to concentrate
on colour and expression, aiming to create colour harmonies that in themselves are clear, pure and vibrant. I find that I often end up doing more detailed paintings than I expect, where the subject (such as architectural detail) demands it! This kind of patience with detail is offset by the exploration of subjects where I work towards a more spontaneous free
use of brushwork to express movement, direction and energy, with less
emphasis on line. For this reason, I enjoy exploring subjects which are more
ephemeral, requiring more painterly interpretations which are less easily
bound by line - sea, sky, vegetation.
Subject Matter
I generally paint subjects which relate directly to my lived experience,
and respond to whatever resonates for me in nature, or in the human environment.
I do not feel a need to restrict my subject matter, either in terms of
viewpoint (i.e. broad views or close-up views) or type, as, for me, painting
is part of life, which in itself is very varied.
Meaning
I paint as part of a process to reveal the true perspective of who I am
and what we are in relation to life. In daily living, I find I respond,
and am sensitised to, detailed visual stimuli. This sets up an internal
process of relating these to mental and emotional experience in a search
for meaning and truth. With this kind of observation I build up a store
of images, visual metaphors, and visual experiences which seek external
expression. Through the process of externalising this in paintings, I
find I am able to discover and integrate my experience at a deeper level
whilst aiming to tap into the wellspring of our innate nature beyond the
ego. This process is supported by, and complements practice in self-awareness
and mental training through meditation and mind & body arts.
The painting process
I currently work predominantly with acrylic paints on cold-pressed watercolour
paper. I like the warm, touch-sensitive feel of working on paper and acrylic
paints provide a wide range of textural possibilities, whilst being quite
intense in colour saturation. Because the paint dries rapidly, it also
ensures that colours are kept clear. I experiment with layers of colour
of different amounts of dryness, thickness or fluidity laid down in different
orders to provide different visual qualities. In creating a painting,
for outdoor subjects, I prefer to work in the studio from sketches and
photo-references, as this allows me to re-imagine the scene's essentials
and give it my own emphasis, without being distracted.
If I am working from still-life or indoor subjects, I work from these directly; occasionally I work from imagination as well. I also work in watercolours, when it seems appropriate as, where the subject or colour theme demands it, I find that the greater discipline needed and the "cleaner" feel of working with pure water and paint create a more still, light-enriched effect.
© Sophie J. Brown