Artist
Statement: Painting from Inside
Acrylic
paintings by Ruth Abrams Drayer
Over the years, as I have evolved, so
too has my love of color. Several years ago, I reached the
point where I wanted to work only with color -- not to draw
or paint anything recognizable. At that time, I met my first
"painting philosopher," who explained to me that
the eye naturally seeks shapes it can recognize. If I didn't
want to paint objectively, I would need to be aware of that
tendency, and resist it. She said when I reach the point
where I think I am lost, that is the most exciting part
of the process, because that is where something new can
occur. So, loosely armed with those principles, I began
to paint.
In time, my work progressed from wanting
to work just in color, to wanting to incorporate texture
-- giving 3 dimensions to a 2 dimensional piece of art.
Therefore, I generally begin by laying on a compound that
builds and textures the canvas; this allows magic to occur
before I have even selected my first colors. These days,
I am painting sacred symbols in on the blank canvas -- a
hieroglyph from Egypt or the Orient or I paint in wonderful
words like love or peace or compassion. Then, when I finally
begin to paint, I am covering or concealing it and this
takes many layers and colors.
Sometimes as many as twenty colors lie
below those seen upon completion and even though no one
sees them, they give depth and dimension to the piece and
that is one of the beauties of working with acrylics. When
the composition and color relationships please and satisfy
me and the interweaving has an order and harmony to it,
some alchemical process occurred and a magical painting
is the result. Each painting is the outcome of a journey
of discovery and a creation in the language of form, color
and design. Like an "ink blot test" I want people
to look at my work and see in it what ever they see.
My electic background includes lots of
design: interiors, flowers, window display and feng shui.
I have been in the art gallery business, sculpted, made
pottery, done art therapy, created rock gardens and am an
author, publisher and professional numerologist, lecturer,
teacher, mother, grandmother, meditator and world traveler.
I believe we are here to caretake and add to the beauty
of the planet.
