Ray Hershberger

Artist Statement

Statement: August 25, 2021

These small paintings reflect my interest in private spaces with public views. These are often tiny gems reflecting the interests of the owner. Children grow up in these spaces, adults preen them, and guest admire them.They welcome visitors but to strangers they say, “Look only! Stay out!’

The focus of the series was constantly changing, shrinking or expanding. The original concept was the spaces between our abodes and my interest was early spring and the flowering trees.Then as the azaleas and camellias came into season, they were included, and now summer blooms. Sometimes getting lost in the subject creates new opportunities. The goal of the paint changes as the series is formed: maybe I start with the exploration of the limits of public views, then the joyous expression of color and texture, or maybe the visual feast of light and shadow.

Ray Hershberger