Nina Ozbey

Umber and Blue #1oil on canvas, collage

Artist Statement

In the past my paintings were traditional watercolors. I loved the transparency and freshness that watercolor gives to a still life or landscape. The detail that could be achieved, the effect of different colors running together, and the glazing of one color over another gave me pleasure. But as time passed, I felt the need to explore a new medium and be more self-expressive.

By letting go of subject matter and switching to oil, the process of painting became more enjoyable. I take pleasure in making marks. These marks create spatial relationships by virtue of their color, weight, texture, and value. My work is intuitive; beginning with one stroke of the brush, leading to another and another and another. I want the opportunity to explore where the painting takes me rather than where I take the painting. As I paint, I think about the composition of the piece and how each mark relates to and energizes the others.

I would like for the viewer to stand away from the canvas to see the overall composition and feel the painting, then step closer and look at the line edges, the color variation and texture.

Just as one appreciates jazz or classical instrumental music for rhythm, tone and pattern, I would hope my non-representational work would be appreciated for the elements within it.