Cynthia Spillman

Artist Statement

I lived in Hawaii during my 20's and learned how to build hakahaka walls; free
standing dry stack rock walls that hold an ancient symbol of protection and
strength (remains of these walls can be dated back to the 12th century). The craft
tapped me into something primordial and ancient. It showed me a way of seeing
deeply into what I’m making, past the visual and structural and into the spirit of
the thing itself. I’m still connected to that experience, and the sense of some raw
innocence vibrating at my core- who I am- the essence of me.
In the studio, I have distinct areas for painting and for encaustic, and the resulting
works are constantly in dialogue with each other. The larger oil paintings are
informed by the shapes and textures that arise in the encaustics. With encaustic,
I’m using the wax as a sculptural element, working it by hand and really pushing
areas of rough, uneven textures, juxtaposed with a smoother, more traditional
encaustic approach. As I’m working fairly small here, these pieces are like
subliminal sketches for the larger paintings. Arising without conscious
orchestration.
I’m drawn to what can’t be said, explained, or described. The universes in my
paintings seem to rise from somewhere primal within—native, and untouched.
They aren’t created to build narrative or meaning, but to embody essential
presence. If I had to offer a word for this Unknown, it would be innocence.
Innocence asking to be revealed- simple, direct and primordial.