This exhibit is FREE to the public and will be on display during library hours Monday--Friday 9am-6pm, starting Friday, August 18, 2023 thru Friday, September 8, 2023.
Artist Statement:
This collection of portraits aims to capture the extraordinary spirit and beauty of the women in my life. As a military spouse, I have moved fourteen times to three different countries, and the women and girls who surround me in each new place become my lifeline. Relationships with these women have provided the emotional support to make me feel secure and loved. Some of these women give me advice; others offer a shoulder to cry on, a laugh, a listening ear, or words of encouraging momentum.
I painted this collection for the joy of creative expression-the ideas, the colors, the shapes, and the challenge. Creating has always been a substantial part of my life. Creativity was nurtured from a very your age by my mother, a public school art teacher. When I became a mother myself, my children became my muses and portraiture became the focus of my art practice. Women and children continue to be my preferred subjects.
I work primarily in watercolor because, to me, the medium reflects the imperfect yet authentic nature of flesh. The paint permits a glimpse of previous glazes to pass through it, echoing layers of the varied experience we build up over a lifetime, the experiences that shape our character.
Ultimately, I am exploring human connection in this group of paintings. An artist has to look deeply and study a subject at length to capture their likeness.
A portion of all sales from this collection will be donated to Our House shelter to help women and children experiencing homelessness.
This is the secondary branch of the William F. Laman Public Library located in the heart of the Argenta Arts District of North Little Rock.
