Artist Statement
I use the Southwest landscape as a reference point for my abstract
paintings-- nature has always been my preferred source of inspiration. Photographing, sketching and observing in wilderness areas of my native Texas have provided me with studies that inspire and inform my work. A swallow’s nest or weathered fence. Designing these renderings from my observations into abstract compositions offer the initial structure of my paintings. Natural forms are juxtaposed with unrehearsed marks and shapes. Paint is layered and scratched into with found objects, a sewing pattern wheel or awl. Steel wool, a sander or dremel is used to take away. The process of unearthing each image is spontaneous and physical. There is only an impression of plants, birds and hills. The unreliability of this approach breeds excitement and mystery—a place where I find passion and integrity in my art.
Suzanne Lewis |