A New Departure
A lifelong artist, Clare has recently found a new liberating direction for her work. Shape and form being the motivation, she has spent many years painting, drawing, and working in three dimensions. Now, organic shapes found in nature inspire a fluid yet linear language.
The New Departure has coincided with her growing concern about global warming and the consequences of climate change. As the Earth’s temperature rises, so does the debate on the scientific and political agendas affecting this critical subject, bringing into focus a possible catastrophic scenario – Clare has chosen to express her subliminal anxieties in a series of abstract interpretations.
In the latest paintings, some of which are large and vibrantly colored, her technique allows color and texture to dictate an approach that is both free and systematic. She explores the nature of texture by carving into the painted surface, exposing previous layers of paint and spray work to create an illusion of depth that can be surprising. Using a combination of mixed media, acrylic color, oil paint, and inks, she allows paint to run in a premeditated and controlled fashion. Sometimes the colors are intermingled, and at other times she weaves the paint to form a textural intersection. Occasionally, she adds metal leaf to create punctuation points that highlight emotional crescendos and contrast dramatically against dark and foreboding depths.
Concern with world’s instability both political and climatic is an underlying yet recurrent theme. A reflection of this sphere is evident and plays upon the viewer’s psyche. Yet the use of vibrant colors liberates a sense of the fragility and beauty provided by nature. Living in an age when boundaries of every description are being pushed to the limit, the artist finds refuge in the appreciation of the planet and its resources.
Clare first came to live in the United States in 1996 to accompany her husband, who worked at the World Bank. Since then, she has studied at the Washington Studio School, and paints in her own studio. As a Washingtonian, Clare has absorbed the work of the Washington Color School, and has taken inspiration from collections of their work. Her earlier career was influenced by studies in Florence, Italy, and London, UK, and she has travelled widely. Her interest in design and decoration is fueled by visits to India, Europe, and several African countries, including South Africa. Clare became a US citizen on February 14, 2012.
A lifelong artist, Clare has recently found a new liberating direction for her work. Shape and form being the motivation, she has spent many years painting, drawing, and working in three dimensions. Now, organic shapes found in nature inspire a fluid yet linear language.
The New Departure has coincided with her growing concern about global warming and the consequences of climate change. As the Earth’s temperature rises, so does the debate on the scientific and political agendas affecting this critical subject, bringing into focus a possible catastrophic scenario – Clare has chosen to express her subliminal anxieties in a series of abstract interpretations.
In the latest paintings, some of which are large and vibrantly colored, her technique allows color and texture to dictate an approach that is both free and systematic. She explores the nature of texture by carving into the painted surface, exposing previous layers of paint and spray work to create an illusion of depth that can be surprising. Using a combination of mixed media, acrylic color, oil paint, and inks, she allows paint to run in a premeditated and controlled fashion. Sometimes the colors are intermingled, and at other times she weaves the paint to form a textural intersection. Occasionally, she adds metal leaf to create punctuation points that highlight emotional crescendos and contrast dramatically against dark and foreboding depths.
Concern with world’s instability both political and climatic is an underlying yet recurrent theme. A reflection of this sphere is evident and plays upon the viewer’s psyche. Yet the use of vibrant colors liberates a sense of the fragility and beauty provided by nature. Living in an age when boundaries of every description are being pushed to the limit, the artist finds refuge in the appreciation of the planet and its resources.
Clare first came to live in the United States in 1996 to accompany her husband, who worked at the World Bank. Since then, she has studied at the Washington Studio School, and paints in her own studio. As a Washingtonian, Clare has absorbed the work of the Washington Color School, and has taken inspiration from collections of their work. Her earlier career was influenced by studies in Florence, Italy, and London, UK, and she has travelled widely. Her interest in design and decoration is fueled by visits to India, Europe, and several African countries, including South Africa. Clare became a US citizen on February 14, 2012.