Nancy Natale, artist and blogger, sent this post to me almost ready to go so I want to send her a huge thanks. What a treat to be able to see her wonderful new work and get a glimpse some of her influences.
Natale - Bandito, 2010, 24”x24”, encaustic with mixed media on panel
I feel that I have finally come into my own with my work. It’s been a long time getting there, but I’ve stuck with it by working, looking, reading and experimenting. I think I have only touched the tip of the iceberg and there is lots more still under water. My website is here at Nancy Natale and my blog "Art in the Studio"
Natale - Three Reds, 2010, each 10”x8”, encaustic with mixed media on panel
Here are some of my influences and the influence has been from the integrity of the vision in addition to the work itself.
First of all, Joanne Mattera For providing the information and inspiration about encaustic with her book and her beautiful lush work, and also for being a model for me with her wisdom, experience and energy as an artist and a woman.Here is her blog and her book.
Joanne Mattera, Gemmo, 2011, 32”x32”, encaustic on panel
Joanne Mattera, Silk Road 146, 2010, 12”x12”, encaustic on panel
Other inspirations – not necessarily in order, but what they all have in common is an emphasis on the physical construction of their work and a dark sensibility.
Leonardo Drew for his use of accretion, for finding beauty in the old, beat-up and cast off and for his devotion to materiality
Lee Bontecou for her dark sensibility, inventive use of materials and for being true to her own vision
El Anatsui for his use of accretion to make something so beautiful from nothing
Philip Guston
for daring to change his work so drastically and for painting so honestly. Also for the physicality of his paint.
Brenda Goodman
ditto(Guston) and with extra credit for having to struggle as an artist who is a woman and a woman who is a lesbian
Richard Diebenkorn for his line, color, space and love of paint
Joan Mitchell for her color, marks and dark spirit
Ted Larsen for his complex simplicity of design and love of old painted surfaces
Lance Letscher for showing me the way
