Wandering Star
by Julianne Trew
The artist uses a subtractive painting technique, removing paint from the canvas to reveal the hidden depths beneath the surface. This erasing process leaves marks on the canvas that are almost like brush strokes, making it possible to imagine the artist’s creative process. The effect blurs the lines between painting and drawing and enhances the artwork’s textural complexity. The details in the piece compel the viewer to try to grasp some image from this void. Yet, whether a mythical creature, constellation, or fossil, it resists explicit definition, leaving interpretations open to personal reflection. Ultimately, its light forms and composition leave a long-lasting dreamlike impression.
Artwork Details
Title: Wandering Star
Artist: Julianne Trew
Date: 2013
Medium: Oil on panel
Dimensions: 18 x 24 in.
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Artist Overview
Julianne Trew is an artist based in Smyrna, Georgia. She uses a subtractive painting technique, removing paint from linoleum panels with tools like napkins and Q-tips to reveal her desired image. As a result, most of her works are monochrome. Her artwork implies a profound connection with the subconscious as she paints automatically, making decisions as she works. Although her pieces may resemble natural objects, they are not precisely identifiable. Trew has expressed her fascination with capturing the essence of the intangible, which resonates with surrealist ideas. She has stated that she is "interested in the feelings of things that don't exist."
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