Andrea Lawson
showing at the Castle Key June 14th to September 30th, 2009

About the Artist:

Andrea K. Lawson has lived and painted in the Pacific Northwest since 1988. She received her M.F.A. from the New School of Social Research, Parson School of Design, New York NY in 1986 and her B.A. from the University of California at Santa Cruz in 1980. Andrea's vibrant paintings and whimsical prints have been exhibited locally, nationally, and in Europe. She is the recipient of many honors including the King County Arts Commission Award. Collections include the Cape Museum of Fine Arts, Massachusetts, and the Ronnebacksholm Arts and Culture Centre in Denmark. She lives in Port Hadlock, WA with her husband and two ballerina daughters.

Artist Statement

I love to move voluptuous paint in vibrant gestures across the canvas to create layers of texture in a jungle of ripe color. The impulse of human gesture gives rise to my kinetic painting process, inspired by dance and the lines and forms of the human body. My paintings resonate with emotion and a sense of mystery as hidden images are revealed in a dance of color and rhythm.

The Rite of Spring painting series was inspired by a Pacific Northwest Ballet performance of the Rite of Spring Ballet choreographed by Glen Tetley with music by Stravinsky. I wanted to create a painterly equivalent to the thunderous and fertile energy of the dancers and music. The Rite of Spring series is about creation and the force of nature made visual as human beings balance the energies of contemporary culture and our primitive roots.