Meet Maureen Doody!

“Never Enough” by Maureen Doody

How did you start out as an artist?

Art has always played an important part in my life. I’ve always been connected to it in one way or another as a professional athlete, photographer, writer, anthropologist, and business analyst. Painting has always been a natural outlet; a way to escape and speak to a nonverbal part of my existence. It was not until a cancer diagnosis in 2017, however, that I was ‘awakened’ to fully pursue my life-long passion for painting. Holistically, it provided me with a sense of clarity and purpose towards fulfillment of living my most authentic self.

How did you get into creating abstract artwork? What does abstract art mean to you?

I seek to express intangible thoughts and emotions that I do not quite have the words for. Abstract is a language of its own. It is a means to communicate on levels often not yet understood and to expand one’s perceptions beyond the five senses. Abstraction has allowed me to distill and better communicate my emotions and ideas about life, nature and our respective place within it. Abstract does not always have to make sense or dictate a clear narrative. In abstract, you can be anyone you want to be and express anything you want to. Abstract itself is the solution and a remedy; it’s therapeutic. It is a means of exploring subjective experiences as a gateway to broader human concerns. We see art in everything around us every day; but, how we see it is different based on our own personal experiences. To be able to capture that art and interpret it in my own way is what fascinates me. Abstract art requires you to have an open, inquiring mind; you must enter the painting and see where it takes you.

“The Other Side” by Maureen Doody

Is there something that you want to convey through your artwork?

I believe that art can forge the path to one’s true self-expression and nurture a mind-body-spirit connection. I hope to engage, inspire and help others find and nurture their true purpose in life through art. I too, believe in the power of art to heal. From our first lifeline the umbilical cord, as the root that grows in the ground, we are all interconnected to each other and the world around us. The release of love through one’s lifelines and its transformation into energy and mind-body-spirit are one with the earth. Life, bound with love turns into energy in nature, light, music and eventually other people; and, how fluid the boundaries really are. I hope my work is appreciated in emotional terms, serving as a key to within, and letting the beauty be in both the painting and the viewer’s mind.

Walk us through your journey of creating an art piece.

My artistic journey is one of the intrinsic personal explorations. Employing unconventional colours, compositions and tonal schema, my paintings are an authentic expression of ‘revelations of self’; and by virtue, seek to capture the transient nature of life and the essence of the human condition. As an anthropologist, my paintings reflect my connection to the world around me, where one can discern recurring themes of truth, unity of nature, healing, reinvention, resilience, and the power of “I am”.

My process is very intuitive and emotionally driven; with other art forms such as film, music, movement and photography lending inspiration. References in my work to the appreciation of lines, light, and expression reflect a synthesis of these style influences. For me the canvas is a mouthpiece; it comes from its intention. It allows me to speak with vibrant colours, bold strokes, and fine lines. It is a means to whisper my secrets, share my passion, express my anguish, and taunt your sensibilities. Entering the studio is a time of letting go: of expectations, of structure, of rules, and of my own ideas about what’s possible and what’s not...in life and art.

“Hold On” by Maureen Doody

Is there a particular artist who inspired you to become one? Whose techniques do you study, admire or aspire to follow?

My earliest and probably most significant influence in painting stems from my late father, renowned Newfoundland ceramicist William Doody. Under his guidance and mentorship, I developed and honed my skills as a painter in both oil and acrylic mediums. He bestowed in me the work ethic required to be an artist and the importance of precision and detail in my work. 

I find beauty and inspiration in a variety of artists, artwork and art forms. For me, it is about the art in whichever form in relation to the people and the universe around us. Art is often examined through the interaction of the principles and elements of art. The principles of art include movement, unity, harmony, variety, balance, contrast, proportion and pattern. The elements include texture, form, space, shape, colour, value and line. The various interactions between the elements and principles of art help artists to organize sensorially their personal stories while also giving viewers a framework

within which to receive and interpret those stories internally. The dynamic between how these formal qualities are used to create a visual and visceral experience inspires my process and understanding.

Helma af Klint is an artist that defies and challenges the boundaries of these artistic parameters, via her use of colour, form, texture, pattern, and composition, to evoke an emotional experience in the viewer.

Meet Anna Medvedeva!

“Extracting the Abstract” artist Anna Medevedeva

What is your collection about?

 My search for new forms of expression led to my Color Field painting series. My paintings are all about nature, feelings and elements of landscapes.

How did you start out as an artist?

I began painting in my early childhood. I studied in Kustodiev Art School and Academy of Fine Arts in St-Petersburg, Russia. In early 2000’s I moved from traditional realism to my current abstraction.

“Green and Blue” by Anna Medvedeva

What inspires your art?

My inspiration comes from everyday experience and extensive travels. I try to convey the mood and feelings of places and perceptions of those memories. I transform my vision into poetic abstraction, diffused with spiritual resonance and discover the hidden beauty harmony of colour.

Can you walk us through your process of creating an art piece?

My current passion is monotype printmaking. Its unique and original painting made on smooth surfaces such as silicone pad, plexiglass or gelli-plate and transferred on paper. Thanks to this technique, I create unique paintings that cannot be copied or repeated.

The medium of monotype is a form of painting favored since the 17th century by artists such as Rembrandt, Matisse, Chagall, Picasso, Gauguin, Sam Francis, and many others. I spend a lot of time coloring and re-coloring shapes and lines until the dynamics between elements come together and a definite composition arises. I had many lovely and calming feelings working with this series.

Meet Susan Weisz!

“My aim in painting is to explore the creative process. I constantly experiment with different techniques, the goal being to produce paintings that are thought provoking and visually appealing. Ultimately, I paint because it brings me great pleasure. If I can transfer some of that pleasure to viewers of my art, then I have succeeded beyond my wildest dreams.”

How do you describe your relationship with art? What does art mean to you?

Art can provide a variety of reactions: it can soothe, challenge, provoke, inspire, delight, or evoke no emotion whatsoever. Art allows me to see things differently and provides me with a creative outlet that can be either rewarding or frustrating, but always encourages me to push forward.

Same Story, New Perspective #1, 24x24, $575

How did you get into creating abstract artwork? What does abstract mean to you?

I began painting mostly landscapes, seascapes, and florals. Eventually I started to think of different ways to paint things beyond the traditional. I liked the results. Being able to explore different ideas without feeling constrained appeals to me. I find it interesting how the same painting can evoke strikingly different responses from different observers.

Walk us through your journey of creating an art piece.

There is no single path to creating one of my pieces. The concept for the artwork could be extrapolated from photographs, from which I isolate different sections and use each of them as a reference to create an abstract painting. A series may develop almost by accident, by observing how a specific paint reacts on certain papers. The exploration continues by deciding how these new designs can be made into esthetically pleasing pieces of artwork. Other times I may be preoccupied with a shape, such as a circle or something more random, like drips, and I would experiment, creating a series or paintings. Sometimes there is no plan to begin with- just a substrate, paint, (and perhaps other media), and the tools used for application. My paintings may be used to send a message or just to create an image born from my imagination.

Dollar & Sense #1, 24x24, $575

Whose techniques do you study, admire or aspire to follow?

I studied the techniques of the instructors whose art classes and workshops I attended. I enjoy the work of artists who cover a broad range of styles such as Steve Driscoll, Angela Leach, Lawren Harris, Tom Thompson, Jackson Pollock, and the black and white pieces of Paul-Émile Borduas, to name a few.

---

You can find Susan’s work right now at Twist Gallery until Friday, February 28th, 2020 and purchase her work under our “Artwork” section. Follow Susan Weisz’s work on her website and Instagram.