Irene Stapleford
Artist Statement:
Upstretched branches, linear form, living presence:
“Trees are poems the earth writes upon the sky
We fell them down and turn them into paper,
That we may record our emptiness.”
— Kahlil Gibran, The Prophet
Inspired by landscapes, dreams, and memories, I make paintings incorporating energetic figurative gesture, layered color, organic geometry such as tree branches, triangle or dot patterns, and sometimes digitally manipulated figures or objects via image transfer.
Upstretched arms of tree branches, tracing imperceptible yet undeniable growth and linear form, have been a recurring theme in landscape and abstraction. Working outside painting directly from the subject allows particular, distinct “personalities” to emerge. Trees affect our quality of life, yet are overlooked and underappreciated: unsung climate change heroes, property value anchors, intelligent elders, and constant, gracious companions. My paintings have been transitioning to more powerful massing of tree forms in silhouette, framed against bright, constrasting skies. I look forward to seeing where this shift in palette and tone takes me.
Upstretched branches, linear form, living presence:
“Trees are poems the earth writes upon the sky
We fell them down and turn them into paper,
That we may record our emptiness.”
— Kahlil Gibran, The Prophet
Inspired by landscapes, dreams, and memories, I make paintings incorporating energetic figurative gesture, layered color, organic geometry such as tree branches, triangle or dot patterns, and sometimes digitally manipulated figures or objects via image transfer.
Upstretched arms of tree branches, tracing imperceptible yet undeniable growth and linear form, have been a recurring theme in landscape and abstraction. Working outside painting directly from the subject allows particular, distinct “personalities” to emerge. Trees affect our quality of life, yet are overlooked and underappreciated: unsung climate change heroes, property value anchors, intelligent elders, and constant, gracious companions. My paintings have been transitioning to more powerful massing of tree forms in silhouette, framed against bright, constrasting skies. I look forward to seeing where this shift in palette and tone takes me.
Artist Bio:
I’m a practicing artist and graphic designer, earned my BA and MFA in fine art, and have taught classes in both fine art and graphic design at the deCordova Museum, Worcester Museum of Art, Greenfield Community College, and University of Southern Maine. I have lived in New England for the past quarter-century, and am staying for the foreseeable future, for love of the trees, seasons, and compelling scenery taken in while driving. I currently reside in Merrimac, MA with my two daughters and one cat.
