November 2024 MFA End of Year

Artist Statement

 From the walk to my studio, I take in the sight and sound of the pavement, park, and distant vistas. The fragmented views of the landscape and sensory experiences of walking filter into works that move between traces of narrative and moments of abstraction. Canvases may emerge fractured, emptied of narrative, or become meditations on paint itself, embracing both specificity and openness.

 The challenge of not pre-planning or composing paintings lies in the continuous evolution of the image - a challenge I met guided by the principles of membranism, emergence, and provisionality.

 In the first instance, membranism speaks to the interconnectedness between self, environment, and material, emphasising the exchange of sensations and forms across boundaries. This concept mirrors the way textures and impressions from the walk become part of the painting process.

In the second instance, emergence in the work refers to decisions arising as evolving responses to initial marks, layers, or forms, guided by the act of painting rather than pre-planning.

Finally, because these works represent cumulative attempts to realise their forms, their provisionality underscores the iterative nature of my practice. Works remain open-ended, embracing ongoing discovery rather than finality.

Figure 1. Sally Barron, Green and leaves, Oil on Paper and linen, 2024.