Artist Statement

Randy Purcell

Memory is an amazing thing. It’s the “lost and found” of our lives. Exploring that realm is a large part of my intention. Each painting is a reflection of my thoughts on things I’ve encountered in my life, but they also include my sense of wonder. It’s the little things that can create and trigger any number of memories. I use influence from one moment of my life and let it lead me to the next, which allows me to follow a seemingly random, and endless, path of experiences. The paintings each represent chapters in the book that is my life.

The process of cutting and transferring ink from magazine paper onto beeswax is a tedious technique but it allows me time for introspection. It is peaceful and silent. Just like memories, some of the transferred imagery, can represent various aspects and moments, which have brought me to the present. This medium translates these subjects as well as we may remember them. Do we ever recall one thing without being reminded of others? The process is meticulous but very blemished when observed closely.

I begin each piece by going through my photos, taking time to just think about my experiences, and reflecting on past works. Of course, I paint a lot of bees because they are responsible for the medium I use, and I like to bring awareness of their importance to our environment, but most of my subjects have a connection with things I’ve encountered. I hope to draw you in with familiar subjects but hold your attention with an overwhelming variety of textures and imagery.

Notes about my process:

When I‘m cutting magazine paper for my compositions I find myself lost in the process and focused on how the imagery or colors I choose will fit into the space.

I begin each piece by going through my photos, taking time to just think about my experiences, and reflecting on past works. Of course, I paint a lot of bees because they are responsible for the medium I use, and I like to bring awareness of their importance to our environment, but most of my subjects have a connection with things I’ve encountered.

The great thing about my process is that there is this suspense as to how it will turn out. I do not know how the colors or textures I’m choosing will look until I’ve removed the paper and revealed the transfer. This part of the process is both exciting and a little stressful.

When things have gone well, I’m filled with excitement and love to just sit with the new piece and inspect every inch. I’m always amazed at the unexpected things I find, or how the things I hoped would turn out actually did.

I hope that viewers of my work will spend a little time with it. Standing afar and then up close investigating the imagery throughout the piece.