LOIS COLE

Art is both a process and a means of communication. Right now this whole process plays out best for me in the field of figurative painting. The human figure is a magnet for mystery and fascination. Feelings and perspectives shift and overlap, creating an endless range of possibilities to explore. I am intrigued by the dance between realistic and abstract elements. I believe this mirrors in some way human experience itself... Sometimes I begin by painting an abstract design and sketching in a figure in chalk. Other times I just start applying paint, not thinking beyond the color itself, turning the painting upside down and around to develop shapes and color relationships. Background is the grounding that helps to create the figure that ultimately develops. Ideas for paintings come from my imagination, models, and photographs, at times a combination of all three of these elements.