Batdorf and Bronson Display
516 Capitol Way S, Olympia, WA
through the month of January 2014
Hello there, viewer!
My name is Jennifer Harrington, and these paintings and drawings span the last few years of my work. The oldest are from my college thesis, the newest from just months ago. Above the fireplace, you will find Barren Sea. The irony is that this painting was a complete deviation from my original intent. I had planned on painting a meticulous pattern in black ink, but had made the terrible decision to use Sumi ink. The black pigment seeped into the wood grain making a huge splotch on the pristine birch surface, and I cringed. My frustration moved me to utilize the splotch and a dark sea image I had seen in recurring dreams came to mind. As the painting developed I became more and more fascinated by the ebb and flow of water, and the way pigments followed currents. I stuck with this sea image, as I could not get it out of my mind. The colors asserted themselves, compelling me towards further investigating this sea of mine. I could not help but stare into the paint and create the imagery repeatedly, each time with varied tones and underlying emotions in play.
Later I discovered an ink pen that gave me the ability to draw fine detail on wood, as can be seen in the drawings towards the back of the space. After such a fail with Sumi ink on wood, I had to find a medium that would allow me to make fine line drawings. Drawing on this birch surface, I was able to look into the wood grain and use that as a starting place: an inspirational queue. My newest drawings: Mid Day, Dandelion Poof, and Flourish also incorporate colored marker, which was a new experiment for me.
The two larger paintings in the back of the space are Untitled and Old Woman, the other college thesis paintings. The blue space intrigues me, and I feel a foggy pensiveness in these. Old Woman was difficult and trying. The surface is ever-so-slightly sloped and tended to stubbornly guide water onto the floor! I wanted to use evaporation as a means of painting in my thesis, and in this one I particularly emphasize the “splotchy” effect that I had originally deamed a mistake in starting Barren Sea. The two smaller blue paintings are further testament to my love for the color turquoise. For me, it is a healing color, and I find quite a lot of comfort in its hues.
The two 2’x3’ paintings flanking Barren Sea are Sea 4 and Sea 3. These two are some of my newest paintings, and the metamorphisis of what began with Barren Sea. As I continued with the sea image, I wanted to focus on pigment details that are more prominent and textural. Up close, there are tiny swirls and “splotches” that, upon backing away from the work, make up a churning sea.
Thank you for taking the time to view my work!
Sincerely,
PS: for sale inquiries, please email me at artbyjenniferharrington@gmail.com
My name is Jennifer Harrington, and these paintings and drawings span the last few years of my work. The oldest are from my college thesis, the newest from just months ago. Above the fireplace, you will find Barren Sea. The irony is that this painting was a complete deviation from my original intent. I had planned on painting a meticulous pattern in black ink, but had made the terrible decision to use Sumi ink. The black pigment seeped into the wood grain making a huge splotch on the pristine birch surface, and I cringed. My frustration moved me to utilize the splotch and a dark sea image I had seen in recurring dreams came to mind. As the painting developed I became more and more fascinated by the ebb and flow of water, and the way pigments followed currents. I stuck with this sea image, as I could not get it out of my mind. The colors asserted themselves, compelling me towards further investigating this sea of mine. I could not help but stare into the paint and create the imagery repeatedly, each time with varied tones and underlying emotions in play.
Later I discovered an ink pen that gave me the ability to draw fine detail on wood, as can be seen in the drawings towards the back of the space. After such a fail with Sumi ink on wood, I had to find a medium that would allow me to make fine line drawings. Drawing on this birch surface, I was able to look into the wood grain and use that as a starting place: an inspirational queue. My newest drawings: Mid Day, Dandelion Poof, and Flourish also incorporate colored marker, which was a new experiment for me.
The two larger paintings in the back of the space are Untitled and Old Woman, the other college thesis paintings. The blue space intrigues me, and I feel a foggy pensiveness in these. Old Woman was difficult and trying. The surface is ever-so-slightly sloped and tended to stubbornly guide water onto the floor! I wanted to use evaporation as a means of painting in my thesis, and in this one I particularly emphasize the “splotchy” effect that I had originally deamed a mistake in starting Barren Sea. The two smaller blue paintings are further testament to my love for the color turquoise. For me, it is a healing color, and I find quite a lot of comfort in its hues.
The two 2’x3’ paintings flanking Barren Sea are Sea 4 and Sea 3. These two are some of my newest paintings, and the metamorphisis of what began with Barren Sea. As I continued with the sea image, I wanted to focus on pigment details that are more prominent and textural. Up close, there are tiny swirls and “splotches” that, upon backing away from the work, make up a churning sea.
Thank you for taking the time to view my work!
Sincerely,
PS: for sale inquiries, please email me at artbyjenniferharrington@gmail.com