Statement: Christine Kimball

​

For some years now, my work has been landscape based, but the landscapes are nowhere to be seen except in my mind and on the canvas. I usually begin by working abstractly.   Then, by building up texture and composition invariably mythical locations, scary and sacred, reveal themselves. They become places of exploration as in a movie of adventure, searching for lost treasure.  My process of late has been that of the building up of layers and then scraping them away to reveal that which lies beneath. The finale of the “dig” is when I complete the painting or bring it to a resolution. The last few years have been about exploration and search. I think I’ve gained some maturity and confidence as an artist. Although, one still questions…is it viable, is it good? Is it finished?  Often a deadline helps the determination to reach a conclusion. 

 

I’ve noticed lately that my more recent work has revealed some influences that have obviously now been exposed. The northwest landscape has influenced my color palette and the topography of the basin area as well as the coastline has determined a direction on the map, at least the topographical regions of my brain.  While I have been concentrating my efforts on landscape, still life is again calling out to me. I am curious to know what will happen to my current paint application technique and what will the outcome of the next body of work be?  Will my next collection echo my current love of calcification and patination, and give the observer a sense of antiquity?  What new discovery will be revealed beneath the layers?