Diane Novetsky
Painting is my way of giving form and color to the invisible.
It is a process that is both additive and subtractive—building layer upon layer of paint on a woven surface (canvas), allowing some elements to become more prominent, while others are buried beneath.
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As an abstract painter, my work evolves intuitively from an inner cache of dreams, half-forgotten memories, and fleeting glimpses of everyday life. The core of each painting's meaning lies in the 'conversation' I have with the work in progress. I begin with an idea or direction, but the work will suggest for me where to go from there—as long as I am in tune with the conversation. My paintings invite the viewer to trace this dialogue and to participate in its creation.
My paintings are built up in layers — like the strata of the earth — using a variety of acrylic-based mediums, such as pumice gel, which echo the gritty qualities of natural sand and stone. I've recently embarked on a series of paintings called "Gardens" which are generally horizontal in format, composed of two square canvas panels. This series uses the motif of an intimate landscape to explore the ephemeral nature of life. The beauty of shifting light, the passage of time and the elusiveness of memory come into play in this series of highly textural diptychs.
The Garden motif is also a meditation on our quest for the spiritual. The garden is a place of solace and comfort in a chaotic world that does not always support the soul's nourishment. My hope is that the viewer can follow me in my creative/spiritual journey, observing and finding beauty in some of the signs and landmarks I have left along the way.