Springvalley Painting

Water, the basis of all life, is the central theme that artist Ulrike Schmelter explores in various aspects. Through her artistic work, water runs like a thread, sometimes portrayed abstractly, deep and unbridled in its most pristine form, and at other times as landscapes or in a different aggregate state, such as clouds. During her studies, Schmelter developed a unique technique for her "water paintings." Rather than painting at an easel, she lays the canvas, mounted on stretcher frames, almost exclusively on a table during the creation process. Using a palette knife, she directs layer after layer of flowing paint to its intended place, creating an impression of depth and spatiality of the wet element. The final work process takes place at the easel, where the right perspective is brought out in her mostly large-format water paintings. Why does Schmelter exclusively paint water? It is her respect for this precious element, which can be both destructive and a savior, as seen in a fire. No life is possible in the long term without water. The artist prefers to be near rather than in the water, studying it in hours of observation and recording it mentally. She translates her memories and emotions onto canvas in her studio, detached from a concrete moment. Overall, Schmelter's work captures the essence of water and its importance to all life forms. Through her unique technique, she brings a sense of depth and perspective to her paintings, creating beautiful and thought-provoking works of art.