Rebecca Crowell

ARTIST STATEMENT

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I live and work in a beautiful rural area of west central Wisconsin, and this allows me a great deal
of solitude and connection with nature, which is an important source for my imagery. I have been
working as a professional, full time artist for over 20 years, since graduating with an MFA in
Painting from Arizona State University. In that time my imagery has ranged from representational views of the landscape to pure abstraction, to a blend of abstraction and referential images. At present you may see textures and colors reminiscent of rock, rust, foliage or sky, alongside areas of pure color or abstract markings or symbols.
I use many techniques in my work, including some from an early foray into printmaking, and I maintain an open, experimental attitude towards materials and tools. All of the following, and more, can be found on my work table--paint sticks and tube paints, metallic colors, powdered pigments, powdered graphite, marble dust, cold wax medium, brayers, rollers, rags, bits of plastic, twigs, whisk brooms, dish scrubbers, sponges, squeegees, paint scrapers and palette knives.
My techniques involve building up layers of paint over many painting sessions, and also selectively removing and erasing certain areas. I do this by scraping, gouging and dissolving paint so that underlying areas emerge. Sometimes I apply a thin layer of paint, and then burnish it to allow a glow from underneath to come through. The cold wax medium that I use enhances the transparency and brilliance of the oils, and creates a smooth matte finish. My techniques result in a subtly nuanced, rich surface that resonates with the complexities of nature that I look to for inspiration.
Most of my paintings are made of individually painted panels, which are then mounted together--
the divisions between panels providing tension and structure to what is otherwise flowing,
organic imagery.
Each painting is an open-ended exploration, undertaken with this blend of spontaneity and careful analysis. I hope that my work has a clarity and integrity that invites contemplation and the viewer’s own imaginative response.

Artist Statement for Current work, Fall 08

I spent the most of the month of September '08 in Catalonia, Spain, in residence at the Centre
D'Art I Natura, followed by several days in Barcelona. This residency (my second at the Centre)
was a wonderful, serene experience; for three weeks I focused entirely on my work, and the
environment around me--the rugged landscape of the high Pyrenees, and the tiny, remote, ancient
stone village in which the Centre is located. I drew, photographed and made watercolors during
hikes and walks in the landscape, and also worked in my studio with its amazing mountain view
for many hours a day.

For my time at the Centre, I chose to explore materials that are relatively unfamiliar to me (I have
used oil paints and wax on wood panels almost exclusively for many years.) So, I packed various
kinds of paper, and watercolors, gouache, colored pencils, inks, a few acrylics, gold leaf,
powdered graphite and pastels, plus a variety of water-based media such as clear gesso and
acrylic gel medium. Although I did some direct, realistic work with these materials while hiking
in the landscape, mostly I worked with these materials in ways similar to the oils at home--with
palette knives, brayers, and brushes, building up layers and scraping back through.

Although they are as abstract as any of my previous paintings, these works on paper--and the oils
I have done since coming home--seem quite different to me in that they are focused on specific
ideas and source material. Travel has a way of heightening awareness of the colors, textures and
objects in the environment that make it unique, and this is especially true when you stay a while.
Besides being captivated every day by the play of light on the hillsides, the clear streams and
other aspects of nature, I was also charmed by the houses and old churches in this region. They
are an organic part of the landscape, made of slate and other stones taken from the surrounding
mountains. And so it was natural to include abstracted buildings in my work, something I do not
tend to do at home, where my influences are almost all from nature. Even the dark interiors of the
older houses, brightened with color on the walls and furnishings, had an atmosphere that fed my
work. I also responded to urban sights in Barcelona--the contrast of the ancient with the new and
stylish, and to things I saw in the museums I visited there (particularly the Egyptian and Pre
Columbian museums.) All of these sights and visual experiences had a direct impact on the way
the work evolved--early on in each case I knew what the work was about and was guided to its

finish in a way that was more direct than my usual intuitive ramblings.

Other changes in my work recently are the use of strong visual contrast, more white areas, and more lines. All of these changes I trace to particular influences from my time in Catalonia. The landscape there had a drama that comes through in stark contrasts, and an aridity and a thin
atmosphere that is evoked with lighter colors. Lines that I am now drawing on oil and wax
surfaces with powdered graphite are a direct result of using drawing media during my residency,
both in realistic sketches and in more developed paintings.

I am extremely grateful for my time away from the normal routines and demands of life, and for
the inspiration found there which I believe will continue for some time. The Centre d'Art I Natura
is an idyllic place where artists, musicians, writers and others enjoy excellent facilities for their
work, the company of other creative people, and last but in no way least, a fabulous dinner every
night (the body as well as the soul are well fed there!) I hope to return as often as possible in the
years ahead.