February 2007
Crystal Bretschger
Miami, FL
Crystal@Bretschger.com
www.Bretschger.com
ARTIST STATEMENT
In my work I draw heavily on my background in illustration to create narrative and still life imagery instilled with a sense of ambiguity and abstraction drawn from the of fine art. Even though my work is figurative and evokes a narrative, I want parts of the story to remain open for interpretation so the viewer can personalize it. I do this by not specifying figures and their environments. I will often use an archetypal character and symbolic elements for their environment. Part of my art-making challenge is to balance the solid areas with the patterned areas so that my work will not become too abstract to convey a story. Though each image has its own specific source of inspiration, and its own story to depict, my work is broadly preoccupied with essential human concerns: birth, death, suffering, and forces of nature.I draw from an array of sources when composing my narrative images: lines from songs, dreams, and daily doodles. Much of my imagery is directly inspired by the lineage of African American visual artistry, specifically the visual art of the Harlem Renaissance. In the use of vibrant colors, rhythmic patterning, and the close relationship to music in the work of such artists as Romare Bearden and Jacob Lawrence, I found an expressive language that resonated with my own aesthetic aims.
The printmaking method makes up a large part of my art-making process. My first step is to create a cardboard relief collage with characters in an environment using different thicknesses of cardboard, paper, tape, hair, glue, and anything else that can be used to create texture and depth. I then seal the cardboard with gesso and matte medium. The next step is to ink up the plate with different colored inks, place a piece of paper on top, and roll it through the press. Using the medium of printmaking allows me great freedom. I can create many versions of the same composition and then make the decision to either cut up the paper for collage materials or use the piece as a base image to paint and collage over. I will often create several versions of the same concept and choose only one piece to show.
