Pretty Paper

Girl with Papaya

It's been a very busy time lately... I'm just finishing up a project that has been "challenging" but extremely rewarding. I organized What A Difference A Day Makes; 24 Hour Art Challenge for my gallery; Fifth Avenue Art Gallery in Melbourne Florida. (March 1-31, 2013), go see . This exhibition challenged 24 artists, including myself, to create a piece of artwork within an assigned 24 hour period... oh, and just so you didn't pre-plan everything down to the last stroke, you were given a list of prompts the morning of your workday. One of the most exciting parts of the project is the collaboration with a local creative marketing and branding company; Brandt Ronat & Company. They partnered with us to videotape a portion of each of the 24 artists workday and created an incredible video documentary all about the project, see it online. Our goal, along with the experience of the project was to raise money and awareness for Very Special Arts Brevard. They bring art to children and adults with special needs. It's a great local organization playing a very important part in enriching lives through art.

I used the challenge to push myself not only to complete a piece of art in 24 hours, but to use the techniques I have been "playing with" over the last year or so. I love the work of Anne Bagby and also love printmaking! The process includes aspects of painting and printmaking with texture, stencils, stamps; designing patterned paper by hand then using the paper as a element of the composition. I am enjoyed the tactile experience of layering with gesso and paint... getting very messy in the process and then playing with the design of the composition. My finished piece, Girl with Papaya was definitely challenging to complete in 24 hours... I looked up the list of prompts and chose the three that I would work with: rare, metamorphosis and flourish, then starting working on ideas for the composition. I am happy to have finished it... in 17 hours, and happy with the comments I have been hearing about the work;  it's very encouraging.
I'll be finishing my second piece soon and working on many more ideas for this new direction... I still love working with paint, and the stencils and patterns are finding their way into that work as well.
Prints of Girl with Papaya are available here.

Inspired...again?

I am going to describe myself as a "Southern Expressionist"...yes I am. I heard that term several years ago, when I was putting together answers to interview questions for the Artlist's artist of the month. I was describing myself as an artist...where my inspiration comes from. My artwork is heavily influenced by my southern roots and my love for the southern landscape. My friends in Alabama, where I spent the first 8 years of my life, would say that "Florida isn't truly the South". But I disagree...Florida is the oasis of the South. Along with magnolias and fried okra...we are surrounded by sandy beaches and lush tropical gardens...and alligators...they are Southern :)
My husband and I travelled to what he called the "Trinity" of all things Southern recently; Savannah, Charleston and New Orleans. Truly 3 magnificient cities. And the inspiration thing, it is on overload. I love the South! I am sorting through all the images I captured digitally, and hanging on to the emotions tied to them. My goal is to get to the canvas as often as possible this summer, and share them with you.
First...let me get a coke and a moonpie...no, an oyster po'boy, left-over fried chicken from last night and some fried green tomatoes.
Happy Summer

The Show is Up, Road Trip, Impressions of a Memory

Roadtrip, Impressions of a Memory, opened May 2nd at the Fifth Avenue Art Gallery in Melbourne, Florida. The exhibit includes 27 new works; a combination of mixed media paintings and printmaking. As part of the exhibition I also displayed 4 pages from my upcoming book by the same title. The 50 page book will include color images of all the artwork, along with the stories that inspired the show. A 45 minute video that included footage from the trip along with many of my father's stories of life in Appalachia was shown at the opening . The video will soon be available for viewing via my website.

It was a great opening! I am so pleased by the response to the artwork. This was a departure from my recent body of work. It was event inspired and I wanted it to work together in conveying my respect and admiration for my father and my family's heritage. I also wanted the viewer to be open to relating it to their memories of the past. My parents Chester and Udell Webb came to the opening with my sister Joy. My brother Jerry, his wife Paula and my niece, Christa were also down from Daytona for the evening.
Special thanks to all those who encouraged and supported me during the last 4 months as I worked to produce the exhibit.

If you came to see the exhibit...thank you for coming!

The show runs through the end of May if you live nearby and get a chance to go. All the artwork is also available at http://www.reneedecator.com/ under the collection: Roadtrip, impressions of a memory. The book is available at a pre-publication price. It will be ready for delivery late June. I would love to hear your comments about the exhibit.

Road trip beginning the art

NEW ARTWORK

I have started the artwork inspired by my "roadtrip" this summer. A pilgrimage to the roots of my father's childhood, in the mountains of West Virgina and Kentucky. I was fortunate to share the trip with my father and my 19 year old son. I have been madly sketching the memories and impressions of the trip. The images develop quickly as I read the notes I scribbled along the way. Places that seem a million miles away from where I sit now.

I hope to share the process of this special project. Please feel free to share your comments.

"Cruel Punishment" sketch

"Seventh" sketch and start

More pictures to follow...

Renee