donna e perkins

artist statement

Making art is, for me, an act of defiance. It is my rebellion from the practical. It is my rejection of the culture in which the practical and the religious formed restrictive rules and beauty was suspect. It is an escape into a world beyond the control of others. It produces objects which quietly take up space, objects which haunt walls.

I would like my art to make a strong social statement that would make the world a better place, but I don't know how to do that. Perhaps there is something vaguely political about going one's own way in the pursuit of the secular pleasure of paint.

I'm primarily an abstract painter, but I've experimented with other mediums because friendships provided opportunities to work with dancers, chorographers, photographers, videographers and writers. Working with dancers has been especially important to the development of my approach to painting. The painting process is, for me, a passionate, wordless dance with the tactile sensuality of paint. There is an element of play and experimentation in my work. Often the work is brightly colored, but it can be darkly despondent.
I'm fascinated with the beauty found in the non-precious objects of the ordinary. If I were to write a one word artists statement, it would be "Look!" If I were to stretch it to two words, it would be “Look! Wow!"

On a more practical note, I've lived in Houston, or in the shadow of Houston, for years. It's a rich environment for an artist. I've been drawing and painting since I was a child. My work can be seen at Archway Gallery.

Donna's website

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