Sylvia Snowden

Opening October 29, 22

SHELL SNOWDEN BUTLER

SHELL IS MY DAUGHTER AND THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THE SERIES "SHELL; GLIMPSES".

MY PAINTING IS EXPRESSIONISM. IT IS OFTEN REFERRED TO AS PASSIONATE AND POWERFUL. IT IS DIRECT, WITH AN EMPHASIS ON SHELL WHICH IS DIRECT, AND REFLECTS A HUMAN STRUGGLE TO ENDURE- ORGANIC SHAPES.

MY PAINTING IS A PERSONAL FORM OF COMMUNICATION WHICH DEPICTS AN EMOTIONAL REACTION WITH A STRONG SENSE OF DESIGN AND COMPOSITION.

THIS SERIES SHOWS AN EXPERIENCE WHICH IS DEEPER THAN APPEARANCE. THE SURFACE IS RICH WITH TACTILE AND VISUAL TEXTURE. THE BRUSHWORK IS SENSUAL AND VIGOROUS WHICH AIDS IN THE PORTRAYAL OF SHELL'S ENERGY. SOME AREAS PROPEL FROM THE SURFACE, IMPASTO, REMINISCENT OF BAS RELIEF SCULPTURE MAKING USE OF GESTURAL BRUSHWORK.

IMPASTO. THE LUSH USE OF PAINT DEFINES THE ESSENCE OF SHELL AND GIVES A DEPTH OF SPIRIT - A CELEBRATION OF JOY OF A DAUGHTER. THE EMPHASIS IS ON EMOTION DISCIPLINED BY A STRONG SENSE OF DESIGN WHICH ATTEMPTS TO SHOW DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES OF SHELL'S LIFE EXPERIENCES.

I OFTEN USE RED TO DEPICT SHELL'S STRENGTH OF CHARACTER: A BALANCE BETWEEN STRENGTH AND FEMININITY. SHELL'S FRONTAL POSITION AND ITS MOVEMENT CREATES A "LIVE" CONNECTION AND COMMUNICATION BETWEEN VIEWER AND SUBJECT MATTER, ADDING A SENSE OF LIFE. THE WORKS HERE ARE PART OF A VERY LARGE SERIES ON CANVAS AND PAPER.

SHELL IS MY DAUGHTER AND THE GRANDDAUGHTER OF DR. GEORGE W. SNOWDEN AND MRS. JESSIE BURNS SNOWDEN. THEY HELPED TO SHAPE HER STRENGTH OF CHARACTER AND FORM HER GIVING PERSONALITY. 

SHE RECEIVED HER BACHELOR'S DEGREE FROM SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY, DEAN’S LIST, AND ENTERED DEVRY UNIVERSITY.

MY BRUSHWORK EXEMPLIFIES SHELL’S ZEST FOR LIFE, HER EFFORTS TO "GRAB LIFE BY THE HORNS”, HER ABILITY TO GET RIGHT UP AFTER LIFE'S UPHEAVALS.

STRENGTH AND FEMININITY.

- SYLVIA SNOWDEN, WASHINGTON, D.C., SEPTEMBER 2022

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