Colorworks 

I work with themes relating to social justice, concern for the environment, and global peace. If you follow my work, you will note that Colorworks is a deviation. I wonder, “Did I take a vacation,” or “Do I need a vacation?” 

This body of work is about the basics—simple color and simple form.  As I conceptualize a body of work I set out parameters that will result in a cohesive statement. The parameters for this exhibition are different; for instance, I limited myself more than usual.

As a multi-media artist my selections of materials, textures, sizes, shapes and colors are boundless. I limited my palette to the 1) intensity of the primaries and 2) shapes of familiar geometric forms. Over all, the contrast of the primaries creates bold and intense effects; relating primaries to other forms in alternate ways characterize “family” groups.  Parts relate to parts and parts relate to the whole; whole pieces comprise groupings. 

Typically, I use high fire porcelain and stoneware, but Colorworks are hand built from white earthenware.  Vigilant drying processes, applying layers and layers of underglazes and glazes successfully are labor intensive.  To add to the time consuming aspect some pieces were fired up to five times! Imagine giving each stripe three coats of underglaze and then two layers of transparent glaze in Striped Faces in Striped Places.  Yes, I do need a vacation. 

For Colorworks my palette is limited to reds, yellows and blues, but in some constructions you can tell where I stretched the value of red this way or that or pushed a yellow hue toward orange yellow.  Still, the basic colors are preserved--clear, bright and pure.

Architecturally, structure is evident through the juxtaposition of basic shapes, i.e., a circle around a square, rectangles within rectangles, and a hexagon atop a column.  The whimsy results from the tension between contrasting primaries as well as organic line and geometric hard edges.  Asymmetrical balance contributes to the light-hearted effects—with a tilt or twist each piece reveals its own attitude.

Stepping outside the “gray” of life into bright color is infusing; I trust the viewer to be surprised and enjoy the bold color and whimsy of Colorworks. Issues of honoring the earth, its resources and inhabitants have always been at the heart of my work: maybe I did not take a vacation after all.  

Our world is not black and white. Our concerns are complex and convoluted.  We live in the gray: the foreboding threat of nuclear arms, political unrest, sorely tested human rights and unrealized civility. Personally, I experience a profound sense of frustration and overwhelm.  It was time for me to focus on art making for the fun of art making; I hope the viewing is as rewarding to you as it has been to me to explore Simplicity through Colorworks. 

No gray tones were used in the making of this art.  

Anne Bullock