Paintings by Marjorie Nilssen
Marjorie Nilssen installed her show of new works in the Windows on Cedar today. Marjorie is on the faculty of Ridgewater College, in Wilmar, MN. View these paintings by Marjorie Nilssen.
Artist Statement By Marjorie Nilssen
My paintings are based on my long-time interest in color, texture, and unity. While I am visually intrigued by nature; rocks, algae, moss, etc., my paintings are not representations or ‘pictures’ of nature. I am constantly amazed at what happens in my studio when I let go of ideas and allow the various processes of painting; melting wax, mixing paint, scraping, etc., to develop into work. It is the mystery of this process that intrigues and inspires me.
Studying under the direction of Larry and Paula Poons at The Art Students League of New York (September 15-October 1, 2012) enhanced my artistic skills by reinforcing the significance of color development and the concept of losing yourself in order to make a good painting. I can still hear Poon’s saying “stop trying to make a painting!!”
Although I was aware of this concept prior to my time at the Art League this idea becomes more clear to me as I continue to work in my studio in Atwater, Minnesota.
Below is a quote from Larry Poons that I really like:
“Ultimately, the issue with art is art. And you really shouldn’t worry about: ‘well….if I do this, it’s not me.’ It’s always you. That’s the important part of art: that this thing comes through if you let it. The essential part of what you, the artist is, comes through if you don’t try to be so overly protective of what you think is your way of doing things.
I think you have to constantly relearn this in your working career—that what you think you can’t do is what you already should be doing, and you’re just putting it off. Simply because you’re afraid to lose yourself. But when you lose yourself, that’s when the art happens.”
*From a 1989 interview with John Zinsser in ‘Larry Poons: Paintings, 1963-1990
