Artist's Statement

I begin with images of people to help create the skeleton of my paintings; I then add and subtract information until I have modeled the form. My goal with this process is to delve into the spirit and heart of the subject thus trying to make the life force more apparent. I am striving to reach beyond the outer layers of the person, and to allow the unique, inner humanness to be brought to the surface. Then I bring my own personal experience to the equation; I enjoy this deepening of the relationship between the subject and myself.

As I begin to strip away the outer layers what is revealed to me is more of the raw emotion and vulnerability. By doing this I hope to make the subject more accessible; to reveal the subject as well as allow viewers to see themselves in the painting. This process helps me focus inward to the source of the feelings we all experience without masks and inhibition.

-Susan Lawrence