Carol Denn
ARTIST STATEMENT
I create contemporary oil paintings with collage on linen canvas and illustrations on paper and products. I invent visual narratives with paint, gold leaf and collage relating to themes around nature, identity and travel to places like Japan and coastal regions around the world.
The sandy-colored raw linen and any collage elements are fully protected with a clear primer which allows it to remain visible and a feature in this work. You can get a sense of the scale of my paintings with the exhibition images of my artwork on my exhibitions page on my website.
Negative space or space between elements is featured in my art. It is not only what you add but also what you choose to leave out that makes a seemingly simple artwork complex in the planning and execution process.
References to nature can be found throughout my work and one example is a painting depicting antlers in paint in response to the growing concern the world is facing with regards to the environment. I also explore themes around identity when representing people.
I am inspired by my travels in my area and also around the world to places such as Japan. Seeing Japanese art first hand and the culture in Japan helped my practice as an artist and more fully understand the influence Japan has had on my art. I was able to study with 5 different master artists in Kyoto, Japan. The Japanese origami washi paper and marbled paper I use in my collage in my paintings bring a sense of pattern, texture, handmade craft, tradition and history to the work.
