“Women Engrained” is a series that utilizes discarded materials, giving them another life. The initial stages of these first four pieces in the series were all created by Hurricane Joaquin in September 2015 near my home in Folly Beach, SC. I gathered the debris from the beach in the aftermath, and knew I would find a purpose for the destruction.
I choose female subjects, painted with acrylic on reclaimed wood. The figures are typically in a non-direct position, with a focus on the back muscle, shoulder, cheekbone, jawline, or hair. A figure’s pose is meant to speak for itself about a personal moment, one of solitude, or one as seen only by a lover. The skin tones, with clear preferences of burnt sienna and lavender, enhance the natural wood grain and bring a warm glow to the figures.
The existing design of the wood grain always dictates the painting, and the subjects must be chosen carefully. Refinished and built into sturdy wooden canvases, they become the platform for images of delicate strength. Quietly confident, these figures complement the nature of raw wood, celebrating beauty in simplicity, perfection in flaws, and moments of stillness.
POME (Product of My Environment) is a surf/yoga inspired art gallery opening in Paia, Maui next month. They will be carrying the first four original reclaimed wood pieces of this series.