I turned to painting after bidding farewell to my first career in marketing, sales, and public relations. Active experimentation with different mediums such as photography, jewel craft, and digital media led me to oil and watercolor painting, my current preferred mediums.
In contrast to the high-energy, fast-changing world of sales and marketing, my artwork draws from the peaceful, meditative qualities of the natural world. Underpinning my work are foundations of bold contrast and bright color, yet my paintings delve deeper. My paintings hone in on the interplay of light and color, the serenity and simplicity of individual elements, and the tranquil feeling of being surrounded by nature. It is the absence of chaos that makes the paintings meaningful: each work is a celebration of simplicity, of God’s little, glorious creations in the sunshine.
Of particular interest is the progression of color gradients: the process of each brush stroke applying layers of color to the canvas is analogous to the maturation of the live plants themselves as they grow and expand. By focusing intensely on the dynamic and often accentuated colors found in nature, my paintings transport the viewer to a state of harmony.
Originally a self-taught artist, I find inspiration in the powerful, creative women of my family and from select Florida artists. I believe that my responsibility as an artist is to show up to the canvas prepared to honor my subject by eliminating time constraints and with the best materials to support quality and longevity of a piece. Painting is a source of great joy for me, and I am passionate about creating work whose meaning transcends the canvas. Each work is a world unto itself with its own unique story that I’m compelled to share through my interpretation of color, light, and shadow.
Kerri Meehan joined Pixels.com Licensing on May 27th, 2009.
