Altered Views Study Painting

At times obscured,  but certainly always present, details from gothic windows and stained glass represent an element of story telling and the idea that light is always available, though often not from the source we may believe. This is a small work in my series featuring gothic windows  and elements found in the  historic architecture of Europe. Windows, stained glass references in particular, started working their way through my painting two years ago. At the time, I was painting as a guest artist, visiting Saltaire in the north of England. Later these works continued to develop in both my home studio and while I was a fellowship artist in residence at Chateau Orquevaux in the Champaign Ardennes region of France. Battling overconsumption has become a growing pursuit of mine. At the same time I also address the nonmaterial that we collect in identity and memory.  I work to accomplish this goal visually by combining patterns, textures, moments as they come to me, often via reclaimed fabrics & objects. I then add drawn & painted responses  alternated with reductive actions or coverage to accomplish surfaces full texture that reach a harmonious meeting of the past and present. My visual explorations include assessing and managing extremes. After early assessments my priority shifts into achieving a healthy balanceof chaos and calm. I choose fabric and materials with history but much more life to live, even if in different form and intention.