Britt Lynn Markey

Britt Markey: Artist statement

“Poems, like love, begin in surprise delight and tears, and end in wisdom.” – Robert Graves

It is in this way I view art. It should provide an experience of beauty for which the viewer or critic may interpret for him or herself. As a painter turned graphic designer, transformed into a photographer, I am on a continual hunt for different means of executing my work and my ideas.

My paintings are large, color driven pieces concentrating on a single subject. Texture and brushstrokes are my words, oil and acrylic are my keys and each piece is a different story. I explore lines of poetry through visual representation. And when I am not inspired by the words of others, I create works dealing with solitude, change, and spiritual exploration from the perspective of a child turned woman who has no true place in the world.

Photography has taken a different role in my art. It is a spontaneous form in which I experience beauty in day-to-day life, observances, and found objects and recreate them for others. I do not seek things to take pictures of; I take pictures of objects and moments that speak to me and inform my past. Through darkroom techniques and alternative processes I manipulate the image to convey concepts, such as isolation and introspection, which drive my art unimportant of the medium.

In recent work, I have combined my passion for painting and photography in a series of printed negatives that have been painted, scratched and layered in order to explore new alleyways and backdoors. I combine ideas of isolation with an exploration of surreal spaces and solitude.

As I push forward and combine new art forms, I am pleased to find that I can remain true to my aesthetics while exploring new territory. In the end, I want my art to inspire others and provoke a free play of imagination where new experiences may be beheld.






Dec. 2011