While I prefer my paintings to speak for themselves, some notes may be in order about my approach. My paintings are the result of what I see: a place, a moment, a view. They are not pictures or representations of any specific thing, but rather products of my vision, which I hope you will come to share. I want you to see what you find yourself, not what you are told to expect. When I paint, I often surprise myself with where I come out, but there is always a personal vision underlying the work. This does not conform to any particular rule or teaching, but rather springs from the creative urge.
Texture and depth, best appreciated in person, are crucial elements, lending edge, warmth, strength, and impact. While I often work in soft earth tones, vibrant colors and sharp contrasts also occur. The point is not to overwhelm or shock, but rather to intrigue the viewer and reveal new perspectives and insights. The painting will ideally serve as a focal point, but one in harmony with its surroundings.
The process of creating a painting is in my case often a messy one: I may variously paint, let it dry, scrape some off, paint again, paint over, and use my fingers-- whatever seems to be wanted.
The underlying vision may arise from my experience-- African landscapes, Rome's history-soaked downtown, California's broad, open beaches, the edge and grit of New York City-- or from some recess of my mind. Each work, however, retains its own mystery and visual challenge, leaving it to you the viewer to find meaning and emotion as you will.
You are thus the final judge. I hope you will look at the paintings, take some time, look again; see if something begins to take hold. And please don't hesitate to contact me with any comments or questions.
Tracy Girdler has been painting for as long as she can remember. Art is in her bloodline. Her great-great grandfather actually started Crayola as a way to help kids draw in color! Lucky to have both of her grandmother's in her life, and lucky that they were both accomplished artists, she grew up thinking of painting as just another normal activity. Due to the fact that her father was a diplomat, she also got to experience living in different parts of the world. Her suitcase full of rich memories, which she could emotionally pull from in her art, grew fatter by the year.
She'd like her paintings to speak for themselves, but understands, like all us artists do; that what's in our brain doesn't always translate perfectly onto canvas. Her paintings are the result of what she sees and feels. They aren't "pretty pictures." With each drop of paint that touches a canvas a drop of hope, of love, of life, extends from her brain to her hand. This of course means that paintings don't always turn out the way she originally envisioned.
We've all been there as artists. The canvas layers grow thick; you begin to wonder if you're trying to be Jackson Pollock; trying to be a hack; thinking that Jackson Pollock himself was a hack. Then, all of a sudden, the painting feels complete and your heart can beat again. That's how Tracy feels when she's creating art. What she pours onto a canvas isn't just paint. It's a collection of everything she's ever experienced emotionally. It's her lifeblood.
She knows though, that you the viewer are the final judge. Take a look at her work! Try to find your own meaning within them. If you succeed at that, then she's succeeded as an artist.
By James Scully, The Wall Breakers
em Português
Tracy Girdler pinta desde que se lembra. A arte está no seu sangue. Seu trisavô foi quem começou a Crayolla, para ajudar as crianças a desenhar usando a cor. Tendo a sorte de ter duas avós em sua vida, e ambas renomadas artistas, Tracy cresceu encarando a pintura como apenas uma outra atividade normal. Como seu pai era diplomata, também teve a experiência de viver em diferentes partes do mundo. Sua bagagem, cheia de ricas memórias que ela pode incorporar à sua arte, foi aumentando a cada ano.
Ela gostaria que suas pinturas falassem por si mesmas mas entende, como todo artista, que o que está na sua cabeça nem sempre se traduz perfeitamente na tela. Suas pinturas são o resultado do que ela vê e sente. Não são “pinturas bonitas”. Com cada gota de tinta que toca a tela, uma gota de esperança, de amor, de vida, se transporta de sua cabeça à sua mão. Isto significa que nem sempre as pinturas saem da maneira que ela as imaginou originalmente.
Todos nós estivemos lá como artistas. As camadas na tela vão se espessando; você começa a cogitar se está tentando ser Jackson Pollock; tentando ser um mercenário; pensando que o próprio Jackson Pollock foi um mercenário. E aí de repente a pintura parece completa e seu coração pode bater de novo. É assim que Tracy se sente quando está criando arte. O que ela despeja sobre a tela não é apenas tinta. É uma coleção de tudo o que ela jamais experimentou emocionalmente. É o seu sangue correndo.
Ela sabe, no entanto, que o espectador é o juiz final. Veja o seu trabalho! Tente encontrar dentro dele o seu próprio significado. Se você conseguir isto, então ela conseguiu ser uma artista.
Por James Scully, The Wall Breakers
Tracy Girdler ha dipinto fin da bambina. L’arte ce l’ha nel sangue. Il suo bis-bis nonno ha inventato CRAYOLA al fine di aiutare i bambini a disegnare a colori.
Fortunata di aver vissuto con due nonne – materna e paterna – ambe provette pittrici, è cresciuta pensando che la
pittura fosse una delle tante comuni giornaliere attività.
Essendo suo Padre un diplomatico, avrà l’occasione di vivere diverse esperienze in diverse parti del mondo. Il suo bagaglio si è così arricchito di ricordi ed immagini che ogni tanto la ispirano nei suoi dipinti.
Lei vorrebbe che i suoi quadri parlassero da sè, ma comprende che quello che è in una mente non sempre viene trasmesso perfettamente in una tela. I suoi dipinti sono il risultato di quello che pensa e vede. Non si tratta di “ bei segni”. Ogni goccia di pittura che tocca la sua tela è una goccia di speranza, d’amore, di vita, che dalla sua mente si estende verso la mano e prende forma. Il canovaccio si fà pesante di pittura, e tu incominci a chiederti se prendi la forma di Jack Pollock; se tenti di essere una scure; se Jackson Pollock sia una scure. Poi, di colpo, la pittura si completa e senti il tuo cuore battere di nuovo. Questo è quello che sente Tracy quando crea un quadro . Quello che versa sulla tela non è soltanto pittura. E’ la somma di tutto quello che ha provato emotivamente. E’ la sua linfa.
Ma sà anche che è lo spettatore ad avere l’ultima parola.
Guardate I suoi quadri. Cercate di scoprire se dal vostro cuore sorga un messaggio. Se questo avviene, lei si sentirà
un’artista.
-Da James Scully, The Wall Breakers
http://artandexhibit.wordpress.com/2012/06/23/tracy-girdler/
About Noa
Noa Edwards was born and raised in Epsom, Surrey. She studied Fine Art at Wimbledon School of Art, specializing in painting and received a 1st class degree. Noa then completed a Masters degree at the Royal College of Art in London, graduating in 2006.
An artist and writer:
http://artandexhibit.blogspot.co.uk/
http://artandexhibit.wordpress.com/
Tracy Girdler is from a grand lineage of artists, such as her great-great grandfather who began Crayola to help young children master drawing in colour. As part of her development as an artist, she studied art in Washington, USA and also worked as an intern at Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts. She draws upon her eclectic experiences from different cultures, first beginning during her family’s frequent moves around the globe, whilst she was growing up.
The work itself is abstract, with suggestions of figurative elements. The painterly surface is textures with sgraffito techniques, thick paint, staining and overlaying of transparent and opaque colours. The ideas behind her compositions seem to be about the physicality of paint and surface and an organic development of colour, tone and texture. Inspiration is taken from many sources and instigates the painting rather than controls the outcome.
Tracy H. Girdler
“They are not pictures or representations of any specific thing, but rather products of my vision, which I hope you will come to share. I want you to see what you find yourself, not what you are told to expect. When I paint, I often surprise myself with where I come out, but there is always a personal vision underlying the work. This does not conform to any particular rule or teaching, but rather springs from the creative urge.”
Her work appears ’textile-like’ in the sense that the layers of colour remind me of weaving and also there is a scattered and fragmented perspective, with some works appearing like aerial images. There is also an energy and playful quality to the marks she makes, with rapid circles and lines.
Tracy H. Girdler ”The process of creating a painting is in my case often a messy one: I may variously paint, let it dry, scrape some off, paint again, paint over, and use my fingers– whatever seems to be wanted.”
Some work has a touch of Rothko to it. Perhaps this association came to mind, when I read she had work on display at the Four Seasons Hotel Lobby In Boston, evident in the he defused bands of colour that cross the compositions.
Girdler seems an unpretentious artist, where she is keen to create artworks that respond to a client’s space and where work can be hung to the client’s taste. For example, Girdler has an interesting take on commission based work, where she will visit the environment first, to get a feel of how the artwork will relate to the surrounding space. I also like the fact that you can rotate the images on her website to view it from different angles and even after the work has been hung, it can later be rotated to see the work afresh.
Tracy H. Girdler
“The underlying vision may arise from my experience– African landscapes, Rome’s history-soaked downtown, California’s broad, open beaches, the edge and grit of New York City– or from some recess of my mind. Each work, however, retains its own mystery and visual challenge, leaving it to you the viewer to find meaning and emotion as you will.”