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Janaury Issue 2008
Waterfront Gallery in Charleston, SC, Features Works by Dixie Dugan
Waterfront
Gallery in Charleston, SC, is presenting an exhibit of works by
Dixie Dugan, on view through Jan. 31, 2008.
Dugan offers the following: "Some artists say 'I can't think of anything to paint!' I only hope that there is enough time in my life to paint all of the images that are in my notebooks and on sticky notes and slips of paper on walls, desks and where ever I am when an idea strikes me. I also keep records of my works and sometimes going back to see where I have been inspires me to revisit an idea with a fresh perspective."
"I work in series and have for a long time. I work one idea until I tire of it; then go on to another. I do a lot of research when I begin a new theme. In my kimono series I did a lot of research on what goes onto real kimonos. I found that nature themes were the most common decorations on real kimonos. When I began the butterfly kimono, I called my daughter and asked her if a monarch butterfly would be found in Japan. She said 'Mother, go to the library and get a book on butterflies of the Far East'. Well, yes, of course, that was what was needed. Thus I spent many hours looking at the types of butterflies native to Japan. On my first kimono painting, I used the real kimono of a fellow artist as a model."
"Someday I will probably go back to watercolors and other mediums, but now I am so involved with these beautiful and wonderful origami papers and rice papers, that I am having too good a time to leave it for the present. The challenge of cutting or tearing paper and making a painting still captures my attention. I call this work that I am doing now collage/mosaic/paper. Collage because I use different papers to create the image; mosaic because the paper is torn in the shape of mosaic tile; and paper because I put paper on paper."
"People are my favorite subjects to draw and paint. I never tire of them. Their features and shapes intrigue me. The light on their faces and bodies captures my imagination and stirs me to reproduce that in paint and paper."
"People often ask me, 'Why didn't you
finish the background on your painting?' or 'You paint some of
the painting but leave some undone. Why?' The purpose is to get
the viewer involved mentally and use their own imagination to
fill in the unpainted spaces. I want them to bring something of
themselves to my art and thus become involved in each of my works.
I am also often asked to name my favorite painting. After having
painted over 1500 pieces, I have decided that my answer is, 'the
one I just finished and the one I have pictured in my mind are
my current favorites!"
For further info check our SC Commercial Gallery listings,
call the gallery at 843/722-1155 or visit (www.waterfrontartgallery.com).
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