Lynn Pauley: People/Place/Thing
Lynn Pauley, a longtime DART subscriber, is having a Pennsylvania moment, with an exhibition of her paintings opening Friday, in Scranton. So I took a moment to catch up. Here is what she wrote:
Q: A Pennsylvania native, you recently moved back, to Scranton. What is the draw of your home state?
A: I think that is the phrase," draw the home state." I grew up in the Philadelphia area, which is southeastern PA and have spent much time chronicling it for assignments and shows. Here in Scranton, which is Northeastern PA, I am fascinated by the rich greys and deep soulful greens of the architecture.
The light here is magnificent, reminding me of Southwestern France and every day I see something new and something I want to, and have to paint. Sixteen of the images in this upcoming show were done live on location. I am coming to know on an interior level that while on the surface it looks like I am making a pictures of the locations I live in, this body of work is becoming a complete visual portrait of my life.
Q. You are known as a Visual Journalist, drawing on location to cover major events for journalistic reports, such as the Oklahoma City Bombing and the Masters Tournament in Augusta Georgia. Recently you have been involved with natural history subject matter, such as birds and plants. Is the allure of nature different for you than a built environment? if so in what way?
A: You will always see cars and an "American" almost blue collar content in my work. That is my wheelhouse; simple, directly applied color and line that truthfully 'records' the subject. That's the process for the surface. More and more I am looking for an interior to the painting; to put more of me in the work. Animals and nature represent the magic realism, spiritual aspect of my personality.
I find am moving away from the surface and adding sound or a soundtrack to the pictures. Which means I am telling on myself. This is uncomfortable for me; by putting more of myself in the works, I am exposing myself to the viewer; this is who I am, really. This is what I see and really think. Ironically, the more I am able to do this the happier and more confident the works become which lets me quietly continue to open up more.
Q. If it is cold and rainy, as it has been this spring, do you use materials/media differently when you paint indoors?
A: I actually don't change a thing. I drive around and scout locations every day. And when the weather is bad I work inside from memory and the personal reference photos I have taken of figures in the landscape. As soon as I see that the weather will be great, say this Thursday, I plan the day to do a picture outside, live. But I can tell you I have made many, many paintings outside in the most extreme of conditions. I get into a zone and I do not seem to notice anything around me.
Q. Do you work differently when painting large than when you do when working in a small sketchbook?
A: Well for one thing I stand to paint when working on large multi figure say 3ft by 5ft paintings. When working in a sketchbook I am seated at a table or usually(this is me) somewhere on the ground. For larger works I have to mentally remind myself that they won't be finished in 20 minutes to 3 hours like multiple sketchbook images from life might take. I have to let them take months sometimes and this was an adjustment.
As far as materials go I use exactly the same instruments I carry on location with me; primarily a pre-mixed personal palette and a variety of flat brushes and 6B-9B drawing pencils.
Q. If you could use one medium for a year, what would you choose?
A: That is a really unfair question. (laughing here). If I am being forced to answer: mixed media (which means everything)!!?!!!
Lynn Pauley | People/Place/Thing: Northeastern Biennial Prize Exhibition. Opening reception, Friday, May 6, 6-9 pm. Artworks Gallery & Studio, 503 Lackawanna Avenue, Scranton, PA. Info
Lynn Pauley earned her MFA from the School of Visual Arts in New York City, BFA from Syracuse University, and an Art Education degree from the Parsons School of Design. She has taught innovative, cross-disciplinary on-site illustration classes both here and abroad since 1989. From 2006 to 2008 Pauley was Chair of the Illustration program at New Hampshire Institute of Art. She has been an instructor at Parsons School of Design, Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, F.I.T. and the School of Visual Arts, NYC. A large selection of her work is archived at the Norman Rockwell Museum. A frequent lecturer and instructor in illustration and on the subjects of, work ethic, craft and personal voice, Pauley just finished her stint as Area Coordinator and Associate Professor in Illustration at Marywood University. In a year of re-branding she is returning to freelance and Visiting Artist Lectures across the country. Info: 610.787.0875 pauleylynn814@aol.com
