This is an interesting copper leaf and textured acrylic work. The Narrows refers to a narrow canyon in Zion National Park that I visited some years ago where the canyon walls are incredibly sheer and close together, forming a dramatic vertical.
The Narrows is 48×36″, copyright 2007 Stephanie G. Willis
Here are a couple of new pieces delivered to the Freed Gallery in Lincoln City this week. I like to work on a heavily textured canvas and sometimes add collaged elements to the mix, too. This one, Paleolithic Mapquest, reminds me of a cave painting, if cavemen had roads and maps! The colors and the incised lines are very appealing to me, but I am not sure if it is too somber?
I also have the 2nd in the Cyberspace series, Cyberspace II which I have been working on for over a year. It has the incised textures and also a collage of squares of various textured papers, which have been covered in gold and copper leaf, then glazed over. This series is inspired by how I think about the stream of electronic information and how some bits (bytes) occasionally escape from the stream and meander into that vast uncharted ether. It is my visualization of what has occurred when a file won’t open. Most people think it is a landscape, and that’s a legitimate connection.
The show looks wonderful! The reception was well-attended with lots of interest and quite a few sales. I sold Blueprint #2 on the right of this photo. The show remains up until the 28th of July. For more information please call the Freed Gallery at 541-994-5600. Show hours are 10-5 daily, closed Tuesdays.
Yesterday we delivered the work to Freed Gallery for the show that will be hung this week and I am adding the images. This painting is titled “Sgraffito #1″ and was the first of a series of “scratched” texture paintings that I have been working on. The grooves or scratches will show a contrasting color due to the way paint collects in the grooves. It creates a very lush and intricate surface, something like a tapestry.
Sgraffito#1, 48×30″ acrylic, collage on canvas.
I am also continuing my work on the Enlightenment series. This also has a surface of gracefully arcing textured grooves, but is also dependent upon a underpainting of watercolor like washes. This is Enlightenment #4, 48×48″ acrylic on canvas (c)2007
Jim, Stephanie, and Shannon Willis will be featured in a month-long exhibition, entitled “A Family Affair†opening Saturday, July 7, 2007 at the Freed Gallery in Lincoln City. You are invited to view their newest works and meet the artists at the opening reception from 3-5pm at the Freed Gallery, 6119 SW Hwy 101, Lincoln City, OR 97367. The painters Satsuko & Earl Hamilton, and Ken Dust & Sandra Fraser-Dust will also be featured. For additional information call 541-994-5600 for details or go to http://www.freedgallery.com.
Sgraffito #2 acrylic and collage on canvas, (c)2007 Stephanie Willis
Abstract collage and acrylic paintings
