Martina Nehrling

Statement & Resume

"Through a Purple Patch," acrylic on canvas, 3 panels, 48" x 252"

Artist's Statement:
My paintings are visual rhythms inspired by the cacophony of daily life, at once the weight and the flimsiness of it.  Compelled by the pulsation of the beautiful and horrific relentlessly clashing I create compositions of accumulation.  Grouped or tangled together, I use multiple distinct brushstrokes for their graphic directness, but highly saturated chroma in order to heighten the effect of color’s imprecise language.  I am utterly seduced by the formal complexity of color while I revel in its emotive slipperiness and enjoy mining its controversial decorativeness.  The inextricability of these aspects unique to color, continually spurs my engagement.  Additionally, color is significant to a striking auditory experience during my painting process.  To develop the tenor, tonality and rhythm of a piece I listen to the spatial relationships and interrelation of color, often combining both sonorous and percussive qualities.  I use particular color relationships to interrupt or punctuate the tracking of patterns of value and intensity, creating moments of concord and discord, taking pleasure in syncopation and visual rhyming.  With color that refuses to be ignored in patterns akin to lists, sentences or notes, my paintings operate as lyrical musing, lush celebration, high pitched lament or raucous rebellion.