Debra Claffey artist statement

M c G O W A N F I N E A R T
GALLERY CONSULTING FRAMING

  Corporate Art Consulting

  Upcoming Exhibits

  Artists

  Framing and Conservation

  Blog

  Contact Us

  Home

Current Exhibit

Updated: 3.9.2011

DEBRA CLAFFEY

An artist’s works often have lives of their own. I have an inspiration to create something, a perception from my life to express, but as soon as the first mark is laid down the painting begins to speak on its own behalf. The work becomes a tracing of the conversation, a sort of transcript.

I’m taken with the shape and contours of natural forms. I love how plants form their leaves and stems and move themselves into the light and air. I love how a sense of depth is created when a leaf passes in front of a stem or another leaf overlaps and changes the two-dimensional shape I put down on paper. I’m astounded by the workings of plant biology, the incredible efficiency of photosynthesis, and the fractal geometry in cell structural patterns. An important ingredient to all the work is the inner calm and peace that comes as result of stilling my mind to work. I must get quiet to see what is before me, to make the choices of this area and shape over another, to listen to the dialog I’ve begun with the flat surface.