Erin Diane Cunningham

Studio Artist

Cover Page
Projects
- Alaska
- Ireland
- Arizona
- Wyoming
- Watercolors
- Travels
- Drawings
About
Blog

Cover Page
Projects
- Alaska
- Ireland
- Arizona
- Wyoming
- Watercolors
- Travels
- Drawings
About
Blog

Artist Statement

“Overcome with awe in the moment, I am inspired to later recreate sceneries, inviting the viewer to contemplate the sublime aspects of the environment. The tension between two conditions of memory: the observational elusive memory, and the fixed photographic rendering, is the focus of my work. Fine details contrasted with elusive perception recharges my subject matter and unites my pieces.”

Imagine traveling thousands of miles away from your home. Overwhelmed with awe by the formidable scenery that stands before, you simultaneously feel a tinge of malaise, aware that you are unsure when you will return to this place. Holding your phone, you photograph the scenery in front of you; however, this photograph will never recreate this fleeting moment. Lowering your phone, you accept you could either photograph the scenery, or experience it. Conceding to the finitude of a memory, you attempt to visually encrypt this experience in your brain. This conflict between memory and experience is at the center of my current work.

Through my work, I convey how I interact with my surroundings--brushstrokes form the sentences that give meaning to my observant, open-minded, reflective outlook and my attention to detail. As an introverted and intuitive person, I have a proclivity for attending closely to my surroundings. My tendency to listen rather than speak in the context of a conversation transfers to my propensity to keenly observe and absorb, rather than react to my surroundings. Especially in nature, heightened awareness of my surroundings leads me to notice and remember subtle color and value distinctions in the landscape. Observation, then later retreating to my studio to reflect and recreate is the beginning steps of my artistic process. While my work does nod to the need for a renewed appreciation for the natural environment, my focus is to present natural imagery in a hopeful light, as intriguing sources for inspiration.

My process initially reflects my inclination for planning and perfection, a yearning to recreate a photograph. I grapple with the tendency to seek perfection and precision, the exact words to express ideas, the exact hues and brushstrokes to recreate imagery. Yet, I am open to novelty as the paint is applied, and a dialogue emerges between my reference photograph and with my actual memory from the place. In certain places, I remain focused, tight, constricted, extracting the highest amount of subtle distinctions in the landscape. I intensify value contrasts, and augment acute details within larger shapes. Capturing intricate details, homing in on my perfectionistic tendencies, adding dramatic highlights, creating juxtaposing color dialogues, or applying texture with my palette knife inspire my overall process, and empower me to break through the challenging elusive areas of my pieces with a renewed excitement and freshness.

In other areas, I render the feeling of an experience by adopting a spontaneous paint application. Relying on the vaguity of this memory in my mind, I leave some looseness in my paintings, illiciting movement, temporality and imprecise memory recollection. Unexpected, unintended broad brushstrokes and liquid drips evoke an unfinished quality, an inability to recall a memory, and the feeling of awe that cannot be pinpointed. The isolated areas with fine details render the ability to remember particular passages of a scene--while the looser, gestural areas prompt emotional awe, and the attempt to recall a temporary experience.