Ms Swersey

Spending time in the studio is a meditation – a place to be still and muck around in the soup of inner space. It is exhilarating and sometimes daunting. At the best moments it is bliss, where time disappears, and I am in a flow state. My hope is to capture in marks, color, and paint, something that has a spark of living spirit. 

 

The point of departure for my work is traditional still life painting. I love the theatrical, narrative potential in still life. The main characters in my work are vessels – teapots, vases, cups, and bottles, as well as birds, flowers and fruit. These objects are actors, playing out  their personalities in gestures and movement. The personified objects end up playing out aspects of myself, and act as stand-ins for family and loved ones. Once in a while an actual human figure makes an appearance in a scene. 

 

The meaning of each painting emerges as the actors relate to one another and to the space of the composition. Oftentimes, the deeper levels of meaning become clear to me long after the painting is finished and out of the studio. Sometimes the meaning of a painting is simple and direct- the vitality of a living plant or bowl of eggs captured in glowing color and brushstrokes. 

 

Painting is the best way I know to wrestle with the beautiful mystery of life.