Deeper Dive With Rebecca Crowell

As a recognized master of cold wax medium, Rebecca continuously develops her practice by experimenting with new color compositions and meaningful markmaking. This exhibition follows the artist's sold-out advanced cold wax workshop held last week at Telluride's Ah Haa School for the Arts.

Rebecca Crowell’s work has an awe-inspiring impact with the artist having eliminated figure and ground in favor of color, form and texture – though echoes of a “landscape” are featured in the work.

“My paintings are always influenced by my surroundings, especially wild, natural places. The ancient, rugged landscapes of northern New Mexico where I live, and other remote places like the west coast of Ireland where I go each year form the basis of my abstract visual language. Their dramatic vistas are moving, but I’m also drawn to the more subtle aspects—the complex colors and textures, the shapes of rocks and landforms, and the luminous atmosphere I experience there.
 
Those places feel like home to my soul, and evoke memories, emotions, a sense of connection, and reflections about time, aging, and resilience. Combined with elements of pure abstraction, they lead to imagery that is inner landscape, rather than literal depiction. I want to express what it means to me to be in such places, moved by their beauty and wildness. These rugged landscapes have taught me what I want my paintings to be—strong, yet nuanced; bold yet intricate; and possessing a quiet, contained energy.

The materials I use in my work are oil paint, powdered pigment, and Cold wax medium, a paste-like substance that adds body and luminosity to the paint. My techniques are ones I originated in my practice over 20 years ago, now widely recognized and taught. My process is complex, involving many layers of paint and wax that are layered, scratched, imprinted, and dissolved to reflect what occurs naturally in nature. There is resonance between the process and my personal connection to the ancient landscapes I love and live.” 

When asked what she has learned from the students in her workshops, Rebecca explained:

"I’ve learned a lot from my students, and could name plenty of tips, ideas, and resources they have shared. But most significant and moving to me is the serious dedication to painting I see in my students, many of whom began their art practice after retirement. They dig deep, they work hard and offer insightful comments and questions. My students have also taught me to be more articulate, precise and discerning in conveying information, an ongoing challenge when so much of what I experience in my own work is intuitive."

Rebecca was also asked what she hopes viewers take away from her recent paintings featured in the exhibition "In Place" at Slate Gray:

"Many people experience a special connection to the natural world and that aspect of my work is an entry point. But because my images are abstract, there are other dimensions I hope will touch people: the complexity, color, and visual depth of the paintings, and perhaps some personal associations.

Also, there are aspects of nature that have counterparts in human experience. For example, qualities like strength and fragility, energy and stillness, depth and surface, time and timelessness. In this way, being in nature can give us all access to parts of ourselves that are deeply and intuitively felt. I hope my paintings evoke hints of that connection."