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Beauty in Transmutation
Written By: Donna Rhodes | Issue: September - 2022
For Jane Smithers, change is as welcome as the tumbling seasons.
Reduction: carefully cooking down a wine or sauceuntil most of the liquid evaporates. What remains isconcentrated yum.So it is with art and abstraction. For years, Jane Smithers hasfocused on artistic reduction. She condenses subjects like trees,flowers, mountains, and sky into free-form strokes, smears,ribbons, bands of color, and marks, bold and fragile.When abstract art is done well, details that define a subject aredismissed. What remains are shapes, forms, colors and textures.The energy of the object/feeling that originally inspired thepainting endures, often intensifies. Jane is a master of thismagical process.Travel back to 2003 and take 2-3 minutes to study her cover.Move your eyes around all the compass points. What do youthink inspired the painting? Was it Nature? A meadow/moun-tain vista? A marvelous field of poppies? Dancers in brilliantcrimson costumes? Something else entirely?Take five slow, deep breaths as you lose yourself in the image.On your fifth breath were you feeling the movement in theforms? Where did your eyes take you? What is the feelingattached to your interpretation of this work?Imagine a palette knife in your hand. Loosen your arm. Swirl itin the air. Imitate the motions/technique you think Jane used toapply paint to surface.What words would describe the knife’s movement? Bold, timid,loose, tight? Based upon your reaction to the painting, howwould you title it? Remember, when diving into abstraction,there are no wrong answers. Now that you’ve participated in a mini-critique, read whatJane has to say about her journey of Change.“From large format oil paintings to an expanded repertoireof works on paper, my art adventure continues to grow at anever-accelerated pace!“New York City and the Metropolitan Museum of Art! In2013, I made a decision for “Change,” not only a changein residence but a change that greatly affected my art. As Ihave always believed that change is an essential part of life, to be welcomed with an open heart … this time it afforded me space and opportunities to learn and grow beyond my wildest dreams.
by Donna Rhodes
