Sandy Van Iderstine

Statement:

Sandy Van Iderstine

I am fortunate to have travelled extensively and have been immersed in the art world for decades conversing regularly with curators, writers, artists and gallerists. I have had the wonderful opportunity to attend art fairs, and to visit museum and galleries internationally which has enriched my passion for art and has exposed me to great artists’ work. Historical masters such as Van Gogh, Cézanne and Turner’s innovative techniques and 20th century icons such as Matisse, Avery and Frankenthaler have inspired me to experiment with creativity.

My work invites the viewer to explore a unique interplay of shapes, colours, transparencies and textures to create a dynamic and engaging visual experience. In this exhibition I have titled the show to reflect the elements of iridescence and metallic sheen that unite the selected group of paintings. In many of the pieces the abstract work subtlety incorporates the substance of landscapes physical elements - air, water, fire or earth.

To produce these paintings, I dilute acrylic paint with mediums, gels and water in successive layers and apply it via pouring, spraying or dripping it onto the canvas. Each painting also includes collaged pieces of acrylic skins from the pallet layered on to the painting. The result is a somewhat mysterious textured surface.

All of this work is created on a flat surface with a pallet knife so that it is viewed from above as the process continues. If the piece seems disjointed, I make drastic changes to improve and balance the space, colour and density to produce a cohesive image.