While studying fine arts, I fell in love with oil paints. I love the luminosity, the variety of texture, and permanency. Although I still prefer oils for smaller paintings, I am able to duplicate their effect quite nicely in acrylics on larger paintings.
Because a painting is my response to the whole environment, I am enticed to work plein air and directly from the subject matter. Even my large scale paintings are birthed outdoors. The physical challenges of working outdoors allows me to be involved in my surroundings, which contributes to originality and creativity. To quote Boudin, the nineteenth century impressionist, “Three brushstrokes painted from nature are worth more than 2 days work in the studio.”
My goal is not to do a literal representation of what I see, but to express my response to what I see while at the same time allowing a certain amount of realism. To me the individual stroke of paint has integrity in and of itself in the same way each piece of a mosaic exists as an individual shape. Van Gogh summed it up this way, "the most technically complete pictures are seen to be made up of strokes of color placed closely together. They do not make their effect until you stand a certain distance away from them. I am more and more convinced that true painters do not finish their pictures--that is, with everything so meticulous you could stick your nose into it.”
My favorite time to paint is late in the evening when the shadows are longer, the colors are intense, and the time is short which forces me to be spontaneous. I find myself attracted to Post Impressionism and more particularly the Fauvists Emil Nolde and Georges Rouault, with whom I share a similar spiritual heritage. So I postscript this statement, as did some artists of old, “Sole Deo Gloria”.
Devita's accomplishments include exhibitions in Juneau and throughout the Pacific Northwest, awards at several juried art shows, and commissions for permanent installations on seven Carnival fun ships.
Shown below are several examples of Devita's artwork from her September 2007 opening. If we can answer any questions about Devita's work, please e-mail us. |
