Tara's Art: February 2008

Sunday, February 3, 2008

Artist's Statement

My work investigates perceptions of beauty and the grotesque, growth and decay. I paint commonplace, organic objects such as vegetables, to explore these dualities and our culture’s discomfort with aging and death. By using paint, a traditional and “beautiful” medium, I want to create enticing portraits of organic forms caught in the process of dying. In many cases, I am drawn to the decomposition that allows the form to shrivel and die while also sprouting new life. Painting directly from the objects is an important aspect of this work, because it is through this observation of decay and rebirth that I find moments to capture.

The process of painting is very organic for me. The observation that happens in my studio lends itself to a fluctuating and intuitive method of working. As the forms decay and sprout, the paintings transform as well. Painting from life is a direct approach and allows endless modifications. Capturing a likeness of the form as well as sensitivity about its stage of life is significant. I try to create work that attracts the viewer though a beautifully painted surface, as well as the strange familiarity that these forms invoke, while also confronting our own process of growth, decay and eventual death.