Liese Gauthier

I work to convey joy, energy, and freedom in my work.

I paint abstract art because I like to find new ways of creating. I like to scribble with pencils and scrape into layers of wet paint with a screwdriver. Through painting, I need to constantly challenge myself and come up with new ideas and methods. It is a joy and challenge to create something that has never been made before.

Each painting is a series of decisions: what colors to use, how to vary the value, shape, and  size of elements. I work in many layers to build interest and history in the work. Collage adds structure and then I paint over the paper to add interest.  Decisions teach me what to keep and what to change -- and so I learn and grow as an artist.

I believe that my work is best when I make the mental shift into exploration and play supported with a scaffolding of theory and technique. Letting go of expectations and creating layers enables surprises to happen in the piece. Then, on the next layer I begin by examining the elements in the piece- how the eye moves around the painting, where value shifts occur, what variety there is in shapes. Then I shift back into paint/play mode and the process continues.

I love how painting challenges me to think and create, and I hope that my work provides a glimpse into this process.