Artist Statement
Living in Liminal Spaces
My painting series, Living in Liminal Spaces, depicts dreamlike nocturnal landscapes that explore familiar spaces and engage the senses to evoke nostalgia. Elements in the work play between the imagination and reality to provoke contemplation and a range of emotions. I use a variety of references and paint-handling strategies to achieve dual feelings of comfort and isolation. By painting certain elements from photographed references, I offer focal points of intentionally rendered realism, drawn from human experience. Alternately, ambiguous mark-making and thin washes of paint leave areas of raw canvas exposed, alluding to incomplete memories in contrast with tangible realism. As a result, select objects emerge with a vivid, lifelike presence from within discomforting darkness to breathe a sense of relief in the composition. In my work, the absence of any significant markers can create an unsettling sentiment. The viewer moves through the scene as a spectator, unable to fully discern what is appearing in the landscape. This draws the attention of the viewer to the comforting aura emulated by light. The portrayal of lighting signifies a human presence, despite the lack of depicted figures. Through this perspective, it intensifies feelings of isolation and yet, the warm light also serves as guidance and provides a sense of protection against the perception of dark, eerie spaces.
