Scene & Unseen is a solo exhibition by Pam Roberts.
Artist Reception: Thursday, May 23, 2024, from 5 to 7 pm, free and open to the community and coincides with the Gala Juried Exhibition Reception.
Read more about Pam Roberts.
Artist Statement: I create with alcohol ink. I drop bright, vibrant colors onto an 99% alcohol painted polypropylene substrate. The ink moves in the direction it wants and with a little coaxing, it can be blown in a direction or with the force of gravity, it can drip and roll right off the page.

I compare painting with alcohol ink to carving. In carving, the foreground or main point of interest is left intact, while the edges and background are carved away. When painting with alcohol ink, I visualize something in the shapes formed by the ink, and then I darken in around the shape to bring the point of interest to the foreground. Using the concept of negative space brings the positive space into view. I find this a fulfilling and creative experience while letting ideas in my subconscious come to light.

During 2020, and in the few years that followed, I focused on abstract alcohol ink paintings. They ranged from A Spiky Virus, Seeing 2020, to A Black Hole, Worldly Imaginings, and other space related ideas. I traced stencils and then applied ink to make kaleidoscope-like designs in some paintings as well. Of course, painting would not be visually stimulating without the use of color. I like using the bright, intense colors that alcohol inks provide.

Watercolor is another medium that I enjoy working with. The wet in wet technique is especially fun and creates a loose, dreamy appearance. Building from light to dark in a painting is sometimes challenging, but solving problems is the task that I find interesting when painting.