My Painting Journey by Eileen Swerdyliak is on display in the Boardroom Gallery until October 16.
Gallery is open Monday to Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Thursday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Artist Statement:
Life changes in various degrees. Over decades, over weeks, and sometimes in the blink of an eye. Art, in all its forms and mediums, reflect these changes. In subtle color changes, to bold strokes, to quiet content, to daring concepts. All of these reflect some part of the artist’s view of the world.
This is where my journey began, when my life changed, and there was nothing I could do to stop it. I picked up the brush and canvas as a method of solace and escape. For a short time everyday, learning about colors, blending, shading and highlights allowed for space to breathe and refocus. My life fractured in so many ways after my husband passed, that was unable to paint for a year or more.
The calming space of creativity, where I felt safe to express, allowed me reach out for all those fractured pieces and slowly put them back together. Didn’t matter the end result, it told a story. Happy spaces and calmness returned with every stroke and highlight. I believe that is what I find in the finer details of a piece. The focus is like a glue in every detail that puts it together, bringing all the fragments back. Bringing back peace and joy, even if for a short time.
Expressions of life are always left on the artist’s canvas. Methods, mediums, and tools may change over time. But what the artist leaves behind in a stroke, a color, or expression, is a definition of themselves at the time. The journey is ever changing, provoking every range of emotion. A beautiful thing to watch and see.
I would like to thank the Prairie Fusion Arts and Entertainment Community for allowing me this opportunity. Their vision and hard work allow for the development of artist young and old, while provide a community for artists to grow.