ARTIST STATEMENT 2021

My paintings convey a distillation of lived experience.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, my work has changed dramatically. Previously, I would sketch directly on the canvas with charcoal. I would pace the studio – drawing, erasing, and restarting. Shapes were often outlined by thick black oil bars demarcating prominent borders. As the lock down continued, my work began to change. No more charcoal. No more pacing. The black outlines faded away. Compositions became more open and less referential. Now, I spend every day – all day, in the studio painting. This serious time commitment has accelerated the shifts in the work.

In the new paintings, I work with palette knives to quickly establish images on the canvas. I keep 4-5 large canvases open – working them simultaneously – impatient for the oil to dry. Images organically surface on the picture plane. I layer more paint and create more texture. My colors have also changed. The primary colors of previous work have been usurped by a more nuanced palette replete with earthy tones. I mix the pigment, thin it out with turpentine, and build the painting in layers. This is my evolution: Borders gone, Colors blended. The pandemic is a reminder of the privilege of being alive – my every day in the studio is charged and intoxicating.

The images are bold. My work is energy, expression, and communication. The studio is where I feel confident and secure. These images are five feet plus. The freedom of a large empty canvas is exhilarating.

 

L.G Talbot
Website: LGTalbot.com
INSTAGRAM: LG TALBOT #LGTALBOT