Exploring the mystery of human existence and recording how we relate to one another as human beings is the force behind my work. In addition to facial expressions, the abstraction created by figures placed in the picture also draws me in. This tug of war between realistic and abstract elements brings about a conflict with the end result being somewhere in the middle. In many cases, the background either breaks up or challenges the foreground. Old photographs of people fascinate me and have also become the topic of a recent series of paintings.
The texture and contrast of color in the paintings is achieved through the rapid application and detraction of oil with knives – a technique I developed in my endeavor to add immediacy and freshness to the work. Getting into the paint and manipulating it is something I am compelled to do, which enables me to inject emotion and empathy for the subject. I continue to explore other media to enhance the surface, such as torn canvas, paper and encaustic wax.
Although my work is transforming, the need to portray the human condition remains constant, and my desire to pull emotion from the viewer is vital.
Joyce Werwie Perry