Isabelle's Artist Statement

My work, almost exclusively taking the form of oil paint and graphite, explores the complex world of emotions, dramatic facial and bodily expressions, and intense color. I seek to bring the drama-packed subjects of old master paintings into a simplified and abstract space, sometimes sacrificing realism for patches of strong color and expressive brush strokes.

In my work, I enjoy confronting the constant fluctuation of thoughts, feelings, and the subsequent lack of control which is a palpable source of discomfort and every person’s life. I use flat, bold color to turn my subjects into personified versions of the emotions most people struggle with—depression, fear, jealously, anger, etc., while retaining the intense sense of expression found in works such as “The Old Guitarist” by Picasso or “The Scream” by Munch. I strive to create a world of sensitive feeling, one that seems to envelop the figures which inhabit my paintings. As I continue following this path, I want to use my art to explore how these emotions interacted together: how do the colors mix? How do they intertwine? How can I use my brush strokes to convey the ever-moving feeling of deep emotion? The result of these queries has allowed me to sift through and explore these questions with earnest and lead my art in new directions. I tend to work quickly, often attempting to finish a large painting in one shot. When I have to break from a painting even for something as short as a lunch break, I often find it difficult or even impossible to return to— my artwork is truly about the spur of the moment drive, fueled by a desire to convey fleeting thoughts and emotions. It is about no plans, no designs, but what is being felt in the moment and how I can most accurately capture that feeling.