I am fascinated by the push and pull of erosion in geological subjects, and how this destruction can be mirrored in the act of creating a painting and building tension throughout a piece. The building of a painting happens over time, colors push through and pigments disperse, and new formations emerge and combine to create unexpected moments. I am interested in revealing the process of a painting’s creation, while reveling in the texture of paint. The flaws and rawness within a painting are fascinating to me, as it mirrors the erosion of the natural world and shows the complete process of the piece start to finish. The mix of intentional decisions and accidental moments- The charcoal drowning into the medium, the ink submerged into the muted washes, the cracks rise to become a cohesive whole. 

My work is inspired by organic forms. Rocks, caves, craters and other natural formations make up the starting point of my investigations. Texture and scale are focal points of my research. Connecting shapes, fusing them together to create abstracted forms, highlighting small moments within large bodies of rock. With this as a catalyst, my paintings push the idea of boundaries and tension, while playing with a micro and macro perspective. Muted washes build and combine to create new lines and composition. Cracks form and disintegrate on the surface, and brush strokes build into crescendos of texture while pushing the lines of suspense within the subject. I want to, in these times of uncertainty and distance, form in my own words the idea of space and what it means to be in a space and the tension that it can cause through abstraction.

Chelsea Stewart (She, Her, Hers) | @chelsea_anne_stewart | chelseaannestewart.com