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Christy Perrine
July 10, 2010
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THERAPIST TURNED ARTIST TO EXHIBIT AT RIVERSEA GALLERY
Christy Perrine
RiverSea Gallery will introduce the expressive pastel work of Portland artist Christy Perrine. Classic collides with contemporary in this series of lush coastal landscape depictions that evoke memories of great masters' impressionist work. Stop by the opening reception from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, July 10, to meet the artist and view this stunning use of pastel. The artwork will remain on display through Aug. 10.
A landscape artist not afraid to push boundaries, Perrine has redirected the traditional use of pastel to create a unique style. Out of frustration with conventional use of pastel, she began exploring the use of colored acrylic ground to develop her working surface. Wanting to convey a sense of drama and power to pull the viewer into her landscape, she paints her ground with bold, strong brushstrokes that create a depth and added level of translated energy. A nod to the mastery of impressionism is constantly present in each of Perrine's compositions, specifically influenced by the dramatic and deliberate brush strokes present in the works of Edgar Degas.
Her intentional choice of background tint serves to create an added dimension to each finished piece. This tone vibrating through lends itself to Perrine's desire to portray a sense of history in her work. Constantly toying with the pull from representation to abstraction, Perrine deftly crafts cool, comforting memories of places familiar to all. When describing her work she states, "I am intrigued by the mystery of texture and color. From a distance my work tells a story of familiarity of place and as the distance is shortened the senses experience the energy and mystery of that place, conveying the duality of nature. Enveloping my senses within and around nature has always given me a sense of belonging and expectation. I find my surroundings never create just one response; they always create a cacophony of senses. If I can capture and create even just a few of these feelings through my work, I consider myself successful. My Pacific Northwest surroundings beg me to interpret their story through my own story."
Perrine comes from a background in mental health, working for years as a therapist, and said she is enjoying her second career as an artist. Her background has helped define her artwork. Instead of analyzing individuals, she explores and examines her own work, and in essence herself, pushing through to find balance in subject matter, portrayal and evocation. While this is Perrine's first solo exhibition at RiverSea Gallery, she has exhibited throughout Oregon and is currently a member of the Northwest Pastel Society, Portland Plein Air and the Studio Painters Association.
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