Artist Statement
Still. Life.
My work explores the manner in which these two contradictory concepts can simultaneously, successfully coexist in a two dimensional space. My paintings capture a restrained yet palpable energy that radiates from just below the surface of my subjects. Forms have mass that is created by barely contained internal pressure. They are held together only by fragile veils of translucent glaze layers. Each layer of glaze represents the cumulative experiences that blanket and alter the human spirit over time in a subtle yet transformative visible way.
The luminosity in my work is the direct result of the method combined with the materials. In order to get the most saturated hues possible, my paint is made by hand. I mill the paints by hand using Black Oil and dry pigments, this having been learned through traditional, classical atelier study. Additionally, 23k gold leaf is often applied in order to reflect light, evoke a reverence for the subject, and elevate its status from something perhaps normally perceived as ordinary or mundane.
-Joan Brady