Monday, December 20, 2010

Studio Visit: Rebecca Saylor Sack 12.08.10



















I caught up with painter Rebecca Saylor Sack at her studio in the Crane Arts Building recently. We talked about a number of things, but one thing that we had a good laugh about was that the work of painters, especially those who work with abstract imagery, progresses because we wind up making problems for ourselves. 

I know that whenever I begin to feel too comfortable with some aspect of what's going on with my work or if it begins to feel too "easy", it's very likely that I'm going to find some kind of wrench to throw into the situation-changing sizes and kinds of supports, trying different media to paint with, bringing different forms into the work, etc...   I feel like if I don't create challenges for myself, the work will stall and feel stagnant. 

Rebecca seems to keep her work fresh just from the balancing act of using abstraction that closely references landscape, but stops well short of being exactly landscape painting. However, like myself, she has deemed it necessary to mix things up a bit over the past year or so by bringing mark-making strategies, like spray paint, to the work that mixes well her very capable paint-handling skills. 

Rebecca Saylor Sack is represented by the Nicelle Beauchene Gallery in New York. 

Artist website: Rebecca Saylor Sack.com

5 comments:

Ian MacLeod said...

Good post Tim, I agree with your comment about feeling too comfortable - and I appreciate your providing the links to Rebecca's fine work.

Unknown said...

Was much fun to get together--thanks for coming by. Love the pics- esp the one of me dancing:) Hope both have a great Holidays!

Stephanie Clayton said...

I thoroughly enjoy your studio visits posts. Thanks for an introduction to Rebecca's work!

Phillip J. Mellen said...

Hello Tim, nice photo set! They really take me on a journey inside the Artist's imagined process. I thoroughly enjoyed the post.
signed- the guy who used to sell you art supplies, haha -Phil

Tim McFarlane said...

Ian: Thanks for looking and commenting.

Rebecca: You're welcome! Thanks for having me over! Happy New Year!

Stephanie: Thank you, very much!

Philip: Hey, thanks!