Arleen Joseph is a well-known, abstract landscape painter from New York City. We all have been spending time isolated in our homes during the pandemic, for Arleen it has been an opportunity to bring color and brighten the days of so many collectors of her work. Her work can be seen around the world.
FMW: “Perspectives are drawn from one’s own past experiences, and my paintings are created from memories inferred by my many travels.” Tell us about how your travels have influenced your work.
I’ve been extremely fortunate to have traveled to many places all around the world. Many off the beaten track exotic places & many familiar tourist destinations. It’s impossible not to be influenced by the emotions each place has had on me.
For example, for many years I had painted rather dark moody paintings, but after my first trip to San Miguel de Allende in central Mexico, I couldn’t help not to be struck by the amazing sunsets, the many colors of the homes, and the culture…. I suddenly realized that all my paintings were lighter and much more colorful after having been there.
I am deliberate in my choice of colors, from the gold Buddhas of Thailand, to the gold ground of Byzantine France to the simmering reds of the Renaissance all my color choices reflect my global journeys and my desire to recreate the sensations visually.
FMW: There are many paintings with blues and greens. Tell us more.
Blues and greens are nature …. it surrounds us everywhere. Since I’m painting abstracted landscapes the blues and greens become a source of reference for the viewer, and hopefully a place they can relate to from their own memories of places they know.
FWM: How have you found your voice in atmospheric abstracted landscapes?
As a painter, I realized early on that I was not interested in painting a realistic scene. I wanted to capture the spirit and the emotional mood of a place, an illusion to landscapes. I want the viewer to have the experience of finding their own journey within my work, rather than being told what to see.
FWM: Share your process.
I work spontaneously, building up layers of richly applied oil paints with different mediums and glazes. Aside from paint brushes, I work with many different supplies you would find in a local hardware store. I enjoy the feeling of dragging and spreading the paint on the canvas. I rotate my canvas in various directions, pushing the limits until a composition is found within my process. I don’t have any preconceived notion as to what the final results will bring to the painting. Only when finished, will I then stand back and think to myself … “ Hey, this reminds me of the China Sea and how I was feeling at that time “ without realizing it at the time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUWnDQ4QWeo&t=216s Art Talk with 530 Burns Gallery.
FWM: Tell us about your use of gold in Byzantine Art.
Gold metallic paint for me creates a sense of history that was often seen in Byzantine times. My many layers of heavily applied rich shimmering gold to my contemporary works offers an interesting mix of the old and new.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpVr853Lmxo Byzantine/Cheryl Smart Start
FMW: Where can we find your work?
On my website – www.ArleenJoseph.com , social media – Facebook & Instagram. Also, many of my works can be seen at 530 Burns Gallery in Sarasota, Florida, and galleries in Mexico, and of course at my downtown studio in TriBeCa, New York City
FWM: Share some of the high-profile magazines that have featured your art.
Curated Style Magazine .. 2019-2020
Martha’s Vineyard Times ..2017
Delta Style Magazine ..2016 Masur Museum of Art
Atencion- ( San Miguel de Allende newspaper )Solo Exhibition .. 2011
The Daily Gazette …2005 Schenectady, Albany County
FWM: As we approach the holidays, why is art a gift that keeps on giving?
Art adds beauty to one’s home or office. It’s something you get to enjoy each day, and especially now during these pandemic days, when we are spending so very much time isolated in our homes, we need some color to brighten our days, and possibly to help us bring back memories of a wonderful time or place that a painting might remind the collector of. Since I am currently donating a percentage of every sale to America Feeds Charity, definitely will be a way of a gift that keeps on giving.
www.arleenjoseph.com
