Art in the Wilds 2018 PEllen


Tuesday, June 19, 2018 — 29


aquette


Painting (Animal Portraitures) & Fiber (soft sculptures)


The visual


arts are power- ful story telling mediums. Just as the artists and artworks that inspire me most lean to-


ward the illustrative, I aim to paint pictures that tell a tale. By combining animal portraiture with the elaborate and sometimes symbolic conventions of 15th and 16th century renaissance art and the whimsy of folklore, I cre- ate images that convey not only the unique personalities and intelligence of the animals portrayed, but also plant visual seedlings of information that empower the view- er to build their own entertaining biographies for these creatures. Some of my favorite topics are combined within my


paintings, and one of the most satisfying parts of what I do is figuring out how to make them all work together- -animals of many species, folklore, the medieval and re- naissance periods of art and history, the natural world,


Debbie Penley


Fiber (needle-felted animal sculptures)


textiles, historic costume, trompe l’oeil techniques, and subtle visual humor. Because I am usually painting pieces no larger than 10”


x 10”, I have to make every square inch count. I specifi- cally draw on the tradition of renaissance “cabinet paint- ings”, intimate in scale and highly detailed pieces com- missioned up to 500 years ago to be displayed in personal living spaces. I spend a lot of time doing research, brows- ing through books of medieval and renaissance art, and looking at images of animals from many angles and in varying light. By overloading my brain with inspiring imagery, the elements start to come together in my mind’s eye and I


work out the details that will embellish the animal to be portrayed and the features of its setting. When I am working with subject matter from folklore, reading helps inspire the process. I rarely do sketches ahead of time. I paint in acrylics


on very smooth gessoed panels, which have a durable surface that allows for the long process of building up of many thin layers of paint and the addition of extreme de- tail.


Sculptures have


always intrigued me, regardless of the medium. I im- mediately fell in love with wool as a medium for my work because of the authenticity it lends my cre- ations, namely wildlife animals. I enjoy working


in a smaller-than-life scale, as well as more realistic pro- portions, and my pieces invite the observer to connect with the tactile element that fiber provides. While I enjoy the experience of creating life-like sculptures, I also enjoy the idea of play, and often let the element of whimsy into my art. Each piece begins with researching photos and calculat-


ing proportions. Next I handpick the various hues of wool and the textures I want to use to achieve the effect that I want. Depending on the size, I will often use a “core” wool to build up the main structure, and then “paint” on this base with the colors I have chosen. A felting needle is used to punch the wool and con-


dense the fibers, creating a solid piece that can be as firm or soft as the artist desires. Armatures are used in pieces that require more stability or that will be posable. Each piece is poked hundreds of times, and the process can be quite time consuming, especially if the piece is rather de- tailed. I savor the moments when the viewer inevitably smiles


as a favorite animal or creature is found among those showcased. Occasionally I am blessed to connect with a customer on an emotional level, often through custom work, and this brings me the deepest satisfaction.


224 Liberty St. Warren, PA (814)723-3910


19 Field St. Kane, PA


(814)561-1389


226 Chestnut Street Kane, Pa.


814-561-1080 16735 Kidslearningcenter2016@gmail.com RealLivingRealEstateExperts.com


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40