Betty Merken - Gallery

Artists Statement:
Formally, my work is about color and structure. Simultaneously, there is an obsessive painterly impulse which demands to assert itself. These parallel, sometimes opposing concerns result in the highly structured sensuality so apparent in my work.

I am dedicated to making color come alive and to speak for itself. My choice of color is intuitive, and carefully considered. Each color delivers its own individual message while activating the space and reinforcing the structure. I contrast opaque areas with transparent areas, which can become like air or like one's breath as they dissolve. This is a magical process to witness as I work in the studio, attempting to coax poetry out of paint and to develop mastery of color and form.

Parallel Structure 13-0106
Monotype
39.5 x 54"
2006

Composition in Black and White 01536
Monotype
27.5 x 31"
2005

Shadow 01578
Oil on Canvas
60 x 76"
2005

Red, Blue Quadrant Series I 0162
Monotype
27.5 x 31"
2005

Composition in Red 01566
Monotype
36.25 x 26.5"
2005