The lights and darks necessary in a painting are also necessary in our lives, Don’t keep your eyes on all the ugly stuff happening, choose to look at the beautiful.
This particular exhibit includes some paintings done the ‘ conventional ’ way indicative of when I
started painting with a little more control, and the rest are rendered on Yupo paper which has a super slick surface that I feel is so conducive to the spontaneity that watercolors deserve. There are also monotypes included and are indicated with my name and title of the painting in pencil at the bottom. Monotypes are rendered on a plate ( I used plexi-glass), allowed to dry and then placing the damp printing paper on top, onto a printing press that transfers the image to the paper.
We all have stories to tell. Life and art alike create many 'messes’. We become so focused on the
'ugly' stuff that we don't see the good things happening in the midst of it! Trying to duplicate the
'Master's' creation, whether in the written word or art form is a challenging task, but when the viewer
appreciates the end result, I am most grateful. I find that you cannot be a ‘people pleaser’ in art! (Or in fact in anything else) I paint for myself as a tribute to our great God who has changed my life!
The weight of the wings has enabled me to fly!
I am not afraid of tomorrow, for I have seen yesterday and I love today.
Joanne DeStefano 2017
