Jeanie Gooden

Artist's Statement
For me, painting is a form of communication. Through my choice of color, brushes, texture or movement, I begin a dialogue that dances between clarity and confusion. Ultimately, my hope is that my paintings translate feelings which are familiar to each of us.

My paintings begin with making an initial commitment to the canvas and then embracing where that commitment takes me. I often find a painting in a very different place than expected or planned. Using restraint to maintain what the canvas gives me is a skill that I constantly work toward but never master.

My emotions and feelings appear in my painting. I try to find a "rhythm" to capture interest or evoke feelings. I often use graffiti-like "scribble" which I feel provides a movement that is not unlike the melody in a piece of music. For me, a painting is finished when each element joins with another in a way that gives the painting a voice. There are many emotions layered onto my paintings, some are easily translated and others not. Unbiased interpretation is my preference and is much more interesting than anything I could suggest.

I am very fortunate to live and work between Tulsa, Oklahoma and San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. The differences in the surfaces of the work created in the urban studio compared to those created in a historic Colonial setting are intriguing. The change in the energy is just one of the subtle but significant differences that I enjoy. Painting in Mexico, with its wonderful culture and extraordinary light, is an intimate part of my life and work.