MAUREEN RENAHAN-KRINSLEY
ARTIST STATEMENT
My art is motivated by an exploration of the natural world, expressed through the interplay of color, light, and diverse materials. As a collage artist and painter, I'm captivated by nature's vibrant nuances, striving to convey its essence and evoke a profound sense of place.
While my interpretations are abstract, the forms and rhythms of nature remain central to my compositions, reflecting my deep concern for the environment and an enduring love for its organic beauty. I layer hues, shades, and tones, building depth and movement within my compositions. Light and shadow are my primary tools for highlighting elements and adding dimension, in hope of drawing viewers into the landscapes that inspire me.
My studio is a playground of possibilities, where the tactile qualities of materials enrich my artistic expression. I embrace a wide range of mediums, including cold wax, encaustic, oil paint, photographs, prints, many oil, acrylic paints, computer drawings done on I pad, and homemade paper. Integrating found objects, especially those from nature, adds unique texture, depth, and meaning to my work. I relish the challenge of combining different materials and techniques, creating rich, complex surfaces that reflect my experiences. The versatility of cold wax and encaustic, in particular, allows me to achieve a spectrum of effects, from luminous smoothness to rugged textures.
In my abstract paintings I delve themes of flow and meditation, seeking to capture the balance and harmony essential in our modern lives. I have worked with this idea in my cloud series and created over a hundred works with this concept in mind. The concept of "flow"—that state of complete immersion and engagement—is central to my creative process, allowing me to fully surrender to the act of painting. This focus, combined with the introspective quality of meditation, imbues my work with a sense of calm and clarity, aiming to transport the viewer to a place of inner peace. Ultimately, my goal is to create work that resonates deeply, inviting viewers to experience the emotional power of color and light and to find their own connection to the beauty of the natural world.
METHOD
A journey of transformation: my multimedia process
My artistic method is a dynamic exploration of form and color, intimately tied to my connection to nature and the environment. It begins with a hands-on investigation of collage and culminates in multi-layered, multi-media constructions. I initiate my creative journey by crafting collages, using handmade papers from Japan, India, and Mexico—chosen for their vibrant, inherent dyes. This foundational stage is driven by my desire to simplify natural forms and study harmonious color groupings on watercolor paper. As I engage with these materials, I often find myself entering a state of flow and meditation, a deep immersion that is central to my creative process. These initial compositions aren't static; I enrich them further with various acrylic paints and mediums, recognizing their potential to form expansive grid installations.
The process then transitions into the digital realm, where I photograph my collages and translate them onto my iPad. Utilizing programs like Photoshop and Procreate, I engage in digital studies, refining and expanding upon the visual concepts born in my collages. This digital phase allows for iterative experimentation, enabling me to explore permutations of my initial ideas. Even in this digital space, the sense of flow persists, guiding my decisions. Once satisfied with a digital image, I bring it back to the physical world by printing it onto watercolor paper.
The final, crucial stage involves an intensive hands-on revision of these printed images. I re-engage with a diverse array of art materials, including acrylic, cold wax, pencil, graphite, wax crayons, pastels and encaustic, working and reworking the surfaces until each piece reaches its completion. This phase often involves a recursive loop of re-photographing, altering perspective, redrawing, reprinting, and repainting. This iterative approach demonstrates my commitment to the evolution of my artwork, allowing each image to organically transform and grow into something entirely new, yet deeply connected to its origins. My method isn't merely about creating art, but about a continuous process of discovery, revision, and metamorphosis.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Maureen Renahan-Krinsley has built a distinguished career in art, marked by significant academic achievements, widespread exhibitions, and notable commissions.
She earned her undergraduate degree in Art from Skidmore College and a Master's degree from Pratt Institute. Her work is held in both private and corporate collections, highlighting its broad appeal and recognition.
Recently, Maureen was commissioned to create art for prominent areas within The Stamford Hospital and The Tully Medical Center, including the ICU waiting room, lobby, and various patient floors. Her art has been exhibited internationally and she has been an Artist Member and previously a Board of Directors member of The Silvermine Guild of Artists and The New York Society of Women Artists.
Maureen's talent has been consistently recognized by influential figures in the art world. She has been juried into shows and received numerous awards from esteemed leaders such as:
Andre Emmerich (The Emmerich Gallery) formerly
Paula Cooper (The Paula Cooper Gallery)
Cora Rosevear (The Museum of Modern Art)
Jill Snyder (The Aldrich Museum)
Lisa Messenger (Curator of 20th Century Art at The Metropolitan Museum of Art)
George King (The Georgia O’Keefe Museum)
David Pease (Dean of the School of Art of Yale University)
Maurice Tuchman (formally the Chief Curator for the Los Angeles Museum of Art)
Ann Tempkin (Museum Modern Art)
Elizabeth Smith (Chief Curator of the Chicago Institute of Art)
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ARTIST : Maureen Renahan Krinsley
@maureenkrinsleyart
Collectors contact me a for studio visit in Ct. @mrkrinsley@gmail.com