Instructeur : Margaret Ferraro

(Disponible en anglais seulement)

Artist’s statement

Studying and illuminating the nature of human life is the central theme in my artmaking. Defining our commonalities, celebrating our spirit and passions is of particular interest to me. Whether this expression comes through the figure, landscape or other imagery, the metaphor remains. In my figure work, this connection can be defined in context to a solitary reflection or action, such as dancing, singing, making music or more reposeful gesture, offering inner reflection. The context can be in relation to each other, drawing the viewer into a conversation, an exploration of shared experience.

In drawing and painting the figure, I hope to capture movement, use colour to reflect the depth and shade of emotion, and to capture, through gesture, a wide and ever expanding definition of the life we create for ourselves. A quiet grasping of enlightenment, an undertaking of passionate dreams, or full blown acceptance of the self, creating art offers an unending source of self expression in stating who we are and what we value.

Landscape provides a slightly different outlet, stating the same perceptions and meanings, as in the figure, in an alternative language, of pattern and puzzle pieces. Supporting a foundation of compositional structure as the fundamental means to provoke a visual response from the viewer, colour and shape are used as metaphor for thought and emotion. I think of landscape as a commentary, an abstract imprint of the human psyche. Metaphor strengthens the unseen principle behind each painting, reassuring the function and nobility of beauty in all art.

Whether depicting the human form in abstraction or the natural world, or depicting landscape in a natural or non-representational format, all my work is meant to communicate and connect the viewer to my own ideas about the human experience. I strive to use composition to set up a strong evocative statement, drawing skills to evoke style in grace and beauty, colour to express emotion, and choose content, imagery to state my perceptions about what is valued, what is important in this life. Art is meant to capture these moments of perception and serve as permanent evidence of what we value, hold precious, and love.