Nocturnal
56'' wide x 48'' high

Marie Valdez

Artist Statement

My passion and fascination for painting exists on a multitude of levels. The creative process/journey of painting is a facet that I will always find intriguing. From the very act of preparing the surface, to the end result that resonates on the wall; there are only a few things that I desire more than being able to create and communicate through the language of paint. Painter Chuck Close describes painting as the most magical of mediums because of its ability to transcend reality. He states, “ It's just colored dirt, on some cloth, wrapped around some wood strips. Yet it makes space where there was no space, and has the ability to have a profound emotional effect on the viewer.”

Coupled with sharing Close’s fascination with how paint transcends reality, I am also drawn to universal experiences that Carl Jung describes as archetypes. I have explored the notion home while abroad through investigations of architecture, and proximity. With the advent of hurricane Ike in 2008 my interests have been redirected to my immediate environment; forced to explore my true notion of home and family, along with many other Houstonians.

While my past fascination with exploring other cultures is still very

much on the forefront of my mind, my current work over the last year

has been directed to the landscapes/cityscapes of Houston, and how the architectural structures (industrial structures, modern building, and domestic homes) relate to our everyday environment and function in our community. Through these investigations I seek to make unique what was commonplace, and create an awareness of the importance of our every day environment through the discourse of paint.