Paula DeStefanis

Artist Statement:

I am currently focused on Abstraction.  I work in both acrylic and oils.  What both mediums have in common for me is the starting point.  My canvases are journals, each start with an entry.  The type often becomes the composition for the canvas.  I work by doing a series of paintings with the same concept running through each piece. This allows me to explore approaches in the work. As the artist making the work, the unpredictability and potential sense of discovery is very exciting and one of the main reasons why I do what I do.

In acrylics my graphic design background shows the most.  My canvases are geometrical and architectural.  In oils the paintings show a sense of struggle and discovery. I am drawn to recreate distressed surfaces in my oil paintings. I love the physical process of applying paint to canvas. There is a real sense of freedom in allowing a spontaneous application of color and line to the prepared surface. There is energy in my painting that works towards connecting my spiritual as well as my emotional being.

I have always subscribed to the theory of “paint for paint’s sake” by celebrating the physical qualities of the medium while including the images or textures that move me. My goal is to create stunning pieces of art that will engage the viewer and foster a dialogue that is invigorating, educational and rewarding.