Artist Statement - Liz Barber

Barber’s process engages multimedia – she pours colors onto the canvas and observes with intuition as she

 

edits in a manner similar to the impressionist mindset. The paintings are layered bursts of energy inspired by

 

nature’s movement, blending the here and now with memories. Forms and lines fall into a sea of

emotion while shapes and reflections drift into volumetric configurations.

Ink, watercolor, and gauche are poured together letting the mediums guide her as she finds harmony

 

throughout the lines and shapes. Graphite, pastel, and oil add a finality and texture to the shapes she explores

 

and gives structure to the organic subjects, uncovering a work where harmony is created from

abstraction. This effect captures the essence of nature’s light, creating an artistic metaphor; opaque, airy, thick

 

and organic. There is a constant attention to create light within the work through color pairings and their

 

interactions. A moment is captured not as a pastoral landscape, but as the glow of light or the movement of

 

forms. She leans into the calm, soothing organic application over vigorous brushstroke. Translucency is

created via different techniques to allow for spontaneous incidental reactions. Mark making in the painting

 

serves as a resting place for the eye and adds diversity from the organic shapes in her work.
 

The most common recurring theme in Barber’s work is nature; the ocean, the seasons, nature’s elements, and

 

nature’s many forms and shapes. These shapes serve as anchors for the mind to stop and reflect upon. She

 

pulls from distinctive color palettes as the seasons change - utilizing subtle and intense color interaction

 

alternately to create depth and space.