CONTACT INFO

      570 SE Atwood

      Corvallis, OR 97333

      (541) 752-6057 Home

      E-mail:  madams8258@aol.com

ART MEDIUM(s)

      Graphite

SUBJECT(s)

      Figurative

My artwork is a reflection of my psyche - a result of the collision of my inner world with the world at large. Although I draw my inspiration from the world around me, ittakes on it's own particular bent as it travels through the portals of my mind. The imagery that evolves enables me to indulge my narrative inclinations: although the stories being told are obscure ones. I approach each drawing without a plan, working spontaneously and trusting to my intuition as acomposition developes. This subconscious mode of operation leads to surprises not only for the viewer, but for myself as well. These surprises are what keep the work exciting for me. I am sure personal revelations are being exposed, but I do not attempt to analyze the content too deeply. This is probably a good thing concidering what I am liable to discover about myself. My desire is that the work will mean different things to different people depending upon their own history.

Titles are an important part of my work and they evolve in much the same way as the drawings do. Generallyat some point while I am working on a piece, a title will pop into my head. It is usually a combination of automatic writing and becoming aware of whatit is the drawing is trying to say. Whether the former or the latter has the greater influence, depends on the piece I am working on at the time.

Beyond that, my concerns are aesthetic. I strive for mastery of craft and strong campositional structure. My most recent work has invloved contrasting the beautiful accidents that occur when applying a loose watercolor wash, with careful graphite rendering that follows. Chaos and order, humor and anxiety, familiar with the unexpected; I want my work to mirror the dichotomies of life and still come up laughing. The detail and richness of each piece should stand on its own merit and still engage the viewer after the initial "What the*#>!?"

And...

I have been drawing and painting, off and on, almost my whole life. There was a stretch there at the beginning when my endeavors were minimal; I was busy sucking my thumb. My drawings are spontaneously generated compositions of imaginary people caught in moments of existential dilemma. THe images tend to reflect the conflict and contradictions in which we often find ourselves in this day and age. I like to present this " lighthearted " subject matter, with a sense of humor. I am sure my own psyche is being expressed here, but we don't want to go there.

Recently I have been juxtaposing more chaotic, fluid washes with the more controlled fine pencil rendering. I find the contrast fascinating, just as I find the contrasts in life fascinating!