ABOUT MARTIE WAGNER
I
have always drawn or painted. As a child I created worlds out
of whatever I could find. (I remember a tiny village made of
folded pieces of newspaper).
Today I paint full time at my studio in the woods.
I
received a
BFA degree from the University of Nebraska. For years
I only wanted to paint people. I wanted to tell the stories I
saw
in their faces, in their gestures. I was inspired by Van Gogh and
by the German Expressionists. I borrowed their exaggerated
colors,
lines and textures.
Eventually
I became more interested in the paint itself. The more I
painted, the more I fell in love with the feel of the brush, the thick
or thin of the paint. I began to feel like a composer swinging a
baton. If painting can be compared to music, I wanted to
start
making jazz. I wanted to be in the moment and to
joyfully
celebrate that moment. I had started to
notice that when
other painters were in this "improv" moment, their paintings showed it,
and you could feel the joy.
"Play is
Research" -- Einstein
For
an abstract painter, "improv" is all about color, texture,
taking chances. It is playful, joyous, or it can be
contemplative,
even spiritual. It is above all a journey of discovery. The
riches that are found along the way become the raw material for the
next journey.
I think you can see that journey in these galleries. I am having the
best time! Thank you for coming along.
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