ARTIST STATEMENT
So much of life is about figuring out when to take control and when to let go—to allow the universe to shape the next moment. Ultimately, control yields accuracy and predictability, while letting go invites the unexpected, the fresh stroke. I gravitate to watercolors because each painting is a reflection of this exercise: the dance of intention and accident.
As I watch the paint pool and blend, the paper’s texture redefines the color’s direction and intensity. The paint can take unpredictable directions. The resulting aesthetic is my vision tempered by concrete elements—making painting an act of faith.
Wall Poems
With a unique process I developed, I add a poem to my paintings to shares my poetry on a visual level. In doing so, I narrow the possibilities for interpretation. A mood is thrust on the viewer—which enhances meaning, but possibly narrows the viewer’s internal dialog. And while the way a poem is read out loud often helps literary interpretation, this series demonstrates that a poem, returned to the page, can work with image to polish its “voice.” My Wall Poems release poems from the page and facilitate accessibility.
© Emily Calvo