Evelyn LaStella
Artist Statement
For me, it is all about the paint and the meditative nature of the painting experience. I want my paintings to be a pleasure to live with over time and to prompt the viewer to pause and look without thinking. This alert, quiet mind state is where joy lives. I strive for non-photographic interpretations with backgrounds that are intentionally simplified to leave breathing room for the primary subject, though the subject is merely a vehicle for the exploration of shape, color and value relationships. I am currently focused on two parallel bodies of work. The first is inspired by the clean lines and subtle whimsy of mid-20 th century modern design. This series celebrates hard edges and color blocking and emphasizes the drama of dark versus light. The second body of work is inspired by Manet’s last flower portraits and the small still life paintings of Stanley Bielen. This series explores massing of values to simplify shapes, embracing the concept that less is more. At times, the lines between the two series are blurred and the resulting work may have elements of both. Evelyn’s work can also be seen on her website.
