artist's statement

I work in various media-oil, acrylic, watercolor, photography and photo extensions, and constructions using found objects and textural components, monoprints and collage-and often in combination.

Living in Colorado I find I am unable to escape the magnitude of the landscape-the wide horizontals of the plains layering into the sky, the powerful vertical angles of the mountains and the vast night skies. The light of our days is harsh, strong, relentless-and blanches out color in midday.  Since I am primarily an abstract painter, I find working toward the distillation of these components much more interesting than producing yet another literal rendering.
 

However, sometimes I start with a verbal or literary prologue, with the title preceding the work.  It may be a line of poetry, a few words of conversation, something that triggers a visual image, maybe music.  Sometimes just a color or combination of colors will begin to coalesce into an idea; perhaps I will encounter a found object, some printed material, something textural.

Having taught children for many years I find myself drawn to their brave and simple forms, their wild and fabulous color. I feel I have been influenced greatly by the strength and honesty and force of their work. 

As an artist I hope most of all for a connection with the viewer-a tacit dialogue, the sharing of a little space and time. 

I love that idea.

Susan Taylor

2007

bio