Open House - Thursday, February 15th from 3:00 - 7:00 featuring new work from FranceJodoin, Luis Garcia-Nerey & Liz Barber
February 15, 2018
My paintings are layered bursts of energy that record experience from nature, blending the here and now with memories. Forms and drawn lines fall into a sea of emotion. Shapes may appears first as a reflection, then drift into volumetric configurations. This effect captures the essence of nature with movement and light creating an artistic metaphor opaque, airy, thick and organic. I pour colors onto the canvas and watch what happens, intuitively editing and adding in a manner similar to the impressionist mindset. There is, in me, a constant attentive awareness to create light within the work through color pairings and interactions. I am projecting an emotional response to my surroundings. A moment is captured not as a pastoral landscape; but as the glow of light or movement of forms. My tendency leans to the calm, soothing organic application over the vigorous brushstroke.
Mixed media allows for more creative freedom and gives the materials a voice. I direct, they sing. The materials are manipulated and moved around in an effort to form the idea of the painting. Mediums are added to get the desired consistency and concerted application. I chime in to gather the idea together.
Translucency is created via different techniques and is usually the result of great experimentation. Water and other mediums are added to the materials to allow for spontaneous incidental reactions. I then use hard edges in the oil paint to edit, finding the gems in underlying layers. Mark making in the painting serves as a resting place for the eye and adds diversity from the organic shapes in my work. I also use graphite and oil pastel as drawn elements.
The most common recurring theme in my work would be seasons changing or rather channeled imagery taken from watching environmental change. The shapes serve as anchors for the mind to stop and reflect upon. They can be identified either as ambiguous or as recognizable forms based on what the viewer brings to the piece. I heighten some shapes by making them a focal point or lessen by hiding them beneath other paint layers. Often I aim to create the sense of a pool of water or an image seen within a crashing wave.
Additionally, I have a pull toward distinctive color palettes at certain times of the year. I use either subtle or intense color interaction alternately to create depth or space. My work commands the viewer’s visceral response, one that is not superseded by representational or abstract imagery nor technical analysis.
The overall process could be called a discovery as I am intuitively responding to shapes as they form whether intentional or as a happy accident.
Corporate Commissions
The Ritz Carlton Sarasota 2015 Sarasota, FL
The Cove Atlantis 2015 Nassau, Bahamas
Yale Hospital 2014 New Haven, CT
Beverly Hills Hotel 2014 Beverly Hills, CA
Wailea Resort Hotel 2013 Monkapu Beach, HI
Archbold Hospital 2012 Thomasville, GA
Comme Ca at the Cosmoplitan 2011 Las Vegas, NV
Athero Genex 2001 Alpharetta, GA
Solo Exhibitions
Studio Montclair 2019 Montclair, NJ
Pippin Contemporary 2018 Santa Fe, NM
Umstead Gallery 2016 Cary, NC
JF Gallery 2016 Marietta, GA
Thomasville Center for the Arts “Bird’s Eye View” 2014 Thomasville, GA
Huff Harrington Fine Art “Barber/Baker Abstract” 2013 Atlanta, GA
Gregg Irby Fine Art “Out My Window” 2008 Atlanta, GA
Rutledge Street Gallery “Ellipse” 2000 Camden, SC
V. Reed Gallery “New in the Garden” 1999 Atlanta, GA
Group Exhibitions
Keyes Art 2019 Sag Harbor, NY
Addison Gallery 2015-2018 Delray FL
Pippin Contemporary 2016-2019 Santa Fe, NM
Pryor Fine Art 2015-2019 Atlanta, GA
Jules Place 2013-2019 Boston, MA
Scope Miami Untitled Projects Los Angeles, CA 2015 Miami, FL
Metro Montage XIV Marietta Museum of Art 2014 Marietta, GA
Palm Beach International 2014 Palm Beach, FL
Spotlight on Art Trinity School 2014-2001 Atlanta, GA
Huff Harrington 2014-2009 Atlanta, GA
The Story of the Creative 2013 Long Island City, NY
Columbus Museum “Let there be Art and Bloom” 2013 Columbus, GA
Thomasville Center for the Art “Elements” 2014 Thomasville, GA
Thomasville Center for the Art “Fresh” 2013 Thomasville, GA
Thomasville Center for the Art “Blue” 2012 Thomasville, GA
Fine Art in Brentwood 2012 Brentwood, TN
Art in the Yard 2012 East Hampton, NY
Saks Fifth Ave Gallery 2011 Atlanta, GA
Thomasville Center for the Arts BLOOM 2011 Thomasville, GA
Huff Harrington Fine Art 2011-2013 Atlanta, GA
Gregg Irby Fine Art 2009-2000 Atlanta, GA
Studio Montclair Currents 2008 Montclair, NJ
Valdosta State University Valdosta National 2008 Valdosta,GA
Swan Coach House, Little Things Mean A lot 2007 Atlanta, GA
Publications
Art Voices Magazine Cover Winter 2015 Los Angeles, CA
Art Voices Magazine Cover Winter 2014 Los Angeles, CA
Studio Visit Magazine 2014, 2013 Cambridge, MA
Spotlight on Art Brochure Cover February 2012 Atlanta, GA
Thomasville Times-Enterprise April 10, 2011 Thomasville, GA
Atlanta Social Season Spring 2011 Atlanta, GA
Museums and Galleries Nov/Dec 2009 Atlanta, GA
News of the Visual Arts USA U.S. News Corp January 2008
Art in the U.S. December 2007 Plano, TX
Eimsbuttler Wochenblatt November 2007 Hamburg, Germany
The Recorder June 3, 2004 Amherst, MA
Hampshire Gazette June 2004 Amherst, MA
Southern Living Summer 2002 Birmingham, AL
Southern Living Weddings June 2002 Birmingham, AL
Professional Experience
Abstract Painting Workshop October 2014 Thomasville, GA
Six Week Class-Abstract Process-Art SchoolSandy Springs April-May Sandy Springs, GA
Painting “Spring 1”
Thomasville Center for the Arts Billboard February 2013 Thomasville, GA
Curator for FLAUNT 25 September 2011 Thomasville, GA
Wake Up With the Artist Discussion Panel April 2011 Thomasville, GA
Brookwood School Artist Critique April 2011 Thomasville, GA
AGA Art Sunup to Sundown Painting Demo Aug 2010 Atlanta Gallery Asc.
Education
Massachusetts College of Art Three years focus in painting Boston, MA
Moore College of Art
