Rebecca Volkmann — Contemporary Art Curator Magazine

Apr 12

Apr 12 Rebecca Volkmann

Biography

Education:
Current, Post-degree Teacher Education Program at Pima Community College, Tucson, AZ.
2003-2004 The Corcoran College of Art + Design. Washington, DC. BFA recipient in Fine Arts. On Dean's List Fall 2003 and Spring 2004. Graduated with Honors.
1996-1997 The Corcoran College of Art + Design. Washington, DC. Fine Arts Major. Entered as a Junior. Provided with a studio space. Studied Art History, painting and drawing, collage, book arts, and paper-making. Dean's List in 1996.
1987-1992 The School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Chicago, IL. Fine Arts Major in painting and drawing. Studies also included Art History, liberal arts, creative writing, ceramics, photography, and art therapy.

Artist Statement

I investigate dreams, poetry, relationships, and my place as a woman and creator in this crazy, messed-up world. Examining what my relationship is with a visual language and query into “self”. This quarantine has provided me with time and space to sit with my paintings. My personal narrative has become mainly about being human and craving a deeper human connection. The theme of many of these new works is love, passion, distance and closeness, and loss. I have been investigating the intimate and raw energy of love and life. My work is based on experimentation and is by nature intuitive. My focus is on careful observation and what comes out in the painting itself through colour, layering, poetry, and texture. The most difficult risk is to not be afraid to work over the original image, yet show remnants of what once lay beneath. I have always been influenced by abstraction, action painting, figuration, and investigating a deeply personal narrative. There is life in dreams, intuition, and what came before art.

What first prompted you to think of becoming an artist?

When I was about seven, I remember being given a corner of our basement, a table, and this funky 70’s orange and yellow skinny, rectangular paper(about 3” x 7”?) by my Dad. This became my studio and I created “Ladies” and designs for their attire. I never questioned “why”, or “what”. I only created and sometimes stayed in that place for hours. My mode d’emploi may have changed, but that “Id” still remains in that place. I nurture that authenticity and flow.

What kind of an artist do you ultimately see yourself?

My work is based on experimentation and is by nature intuitive. I have always been influenced by abstraction, action painting, figuration, and investigating a deeply personal narrative.

What are you hoping to communicate to the viewer through your work?

Can you explain the process of creating your work?

My focus is on careful observation and what comes out in the painting itself through colour, layering, poetry, and texture. The most difficult risk is to not be afraid to work over the original image, yet show remnants of what once lay beneath.

What is your favourite part of the creative process?

I truly love to paint intuitively, so I wait to see what will emerge in the first stages/layers of painting or drawing. Recently, I have been using my own photos both portraits and images from nature around me to inspire my compositions and/or subject matter.

Can you give us an insight into current projects and inspiration, or what we can look forward to from you in the near future?

The theme of many of these new works is love, passion, distance and closeness, and loss. I have been investigating the intimate and raw energy of love and life. The direction my work has taken is primarily figurative and includes portraiture. Ironically, I do not use models. The subjects in the paintings are imagined and from a deeper, intuitive place.

Website www.rebeccavolkmann.com

Instagram @rebeccaevolkmannartwork

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