Artist Statements Reflect/Revise III October 2020

My new paintings are inspired by the symmetrical wood grain patterning running in a vertical format made by carpenter Rick Johnson, which he originally made for a guitar builder. The vertical format is new for me as I have in the past painted horizontal landscapes.
The theme in this series is the interconnectedness of elements in nature: color, wood, water and eggs. The ideas originate from two sources: observational drawings of what I see around me in the garden and from the patterns I see inherent in the woodgrain of in the panels. The the structure of the wood may suggest specific content for some of the paintings where as in others the grain did not make any suggestion, here I worked in a spontaneous manner to create form and content. For example, in the painting Frog the subject originated from observing a frog in nature while the form of the figure was inherent in the woodgrain pattern that was in the panel. In Double Three, I visualized six port holes underwater, combining the elements of woodgrain and water.
I love painting on a small format with the egg yolks and pure water dispersed pigments because there is a surprising interaction with the wood textures, depending on the consistency of the egg media and the pigments. Painting with the egg tempera on unprimed wood creates a cohesive color palette and it enhances the character of the wood pattern by penetrating into the wood fibers as a stain. This is an ancient technique used before oil painting.
Ursula Schneider, October, 2020
ursulapaints@optonline.net
http://www.ursulaschneider.com

Reflect
The three ceramic figures on the window ledge at Buster Levi Gallery of three women were made during the pandemic shut down this year; a time of uncertainty and of contemplation about our mortality.  Their arms and hands are held close to their body in a protective gesture as they seem to look out at the world with expressions of astonishment and perplexity. They reflect my questions and concerns of this time.
Ada Pilar Cruz, 2020
adapilar@yahoo.com
http://www.adapilarcruz.com