Contemporary Painting, Crossfire Hurricane, 24×36 oil on linen by Deborah Chapin
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Contemporary Painting, collector’s art, “Crossfire Hurricane”, 24×36 oil on linen canvas by Deborah Chapin
“Crossfire Hurricane”, a contemporary painting, is part of my Book of Water Project. It expresses the calm center of the hurricane. The woman in the center of a whirling dervish of concerns, and events all around her.
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About the Process:
This is part of the Water Portraits of Women. This piece took several turns in the evolution. You can see more in my blog about the process.
This series of portrait paintings is new work to my contemporary painting portfolio. In my youth I was a competitive swimmer and so am very comfortable underwater although it did require learning some diving skills to stay underwater since I am naturally buoyant. After about 2 months of practicing however with weights I managed to sink. I also worked at expanding the time underwater through controlling my breathing until really the limitations now are equipment rather than my breathing. Part of Women Painting Women Movement.
About the Artist
My Online Studio is an extension of my studio. When you enter you are entering my studio but without the housekeeping. I offer fine art in original oil paintings on linen and also canvas prints of favorite original pieces. Most of my originals in the past 20 years have been painted en plein air ( on location) I have lectured and made film presentation at the Smithsonian American Art Museum, exhibited at the Louvre, and museums through out the world See my Exhibition History
The next 30 years I expect to be doing a combination of unusual water portrait work and collector’s favorite, my beach scenes with people. If you have questions feel free to ask.
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Artist’s Statement
I have painted every subject known to woman at this point, starting with marine art, coastals, seascapes, florals and landscapes en plein air (on location) I am now branching out to portraits and figurative work and add it to my skills and eventually incorporate it into my seascapes. I am excited to see where it goes and how it evolves. Currently I am taking on a project to paint underwater portraits and figure work. I began this portfolio with the economic downturn because the expense and personal considerations made travel impossible. I have been painting water in all its various forms and moods for 35 years and this subject matter appealed to me because it combined something I knew well with something I was just beginning to learn. The objective wasn’t to do a photo realistic painting but rather to capture the essence of the subject and the spirit of the model. Water often represents the border between this world and the next but that need not be the dark side of that connotation and to my mind it is uplifting and full of life and movement. I am seeking to depict the inside dynamic of an individual using water to carry light and movement through the subject. What I’m trying to depict is the spirit of women, not as the languid object but instead as a dynamic, spirited, strong and intellectually thoughtful individual. Water is a freeing medium, releasing the subject from the constraints of the ordinary and from gravity it also doesn’t allow for “the pose” with the difficulty of control comes movement and life into the depiction and a certain serendipity which I have always found to be an inspiration. I use the natural light because again it the opposite of the darkness it represents life and vitality and enhances the strength of light patterns and movement lines.