Karen LeGault

Artist Statement

“Not East and Not West”

My interest is exploring movement, energy and cycles-of-life in rich, colorful and nuanced nature-filled compositions of flowers, still-lifes, ponds and landscapes. I am interested in the interplay of dynamic dichotomies: fast/slow, hard/soft, light/dark, clear/fuzzy, fine/course, wet/dry and I relish the interaction of the brushes connecting with the paper in these dynamics. I hear the sounds that the subjects seem to make in my mind, seeing individual elements as part of the whole ensemble.

I strive to create visual poetry, a sense of light, transformation and healing in rich distilled compositions expressing beauty, fragrance, rhythm and form with a saturated color palette. I want you to be able to experience a painting physically, to feel it tactically, in your body, engaging all five senses.

My work is informed by a variety of philosophies, the balance of yin and yang energies and aspects of the five elements, wood (wind), water, fire, earth and metal, along with a dose of whimsy, come into play - in colors, textures and subject.

Influences include Bada Shan Ren, Yun Bun, Wu Chuong Shuo, Henri Matisse, William Turner, Mark Rothko, Ralph Goings and John Kaneko. I also admire Japanese screen paintings and Renaissance tapestries along with other genres too diverse to mention here.

'Serenity that Energizes'