The Lynn House Gallery is proud to host a
solo exhibit of portraits by Brentwood artist, Marilyn
Pellouchoud. These works are large powerful graphic images of
people Pellouchoud is most close to; family, friends, and
herself. The subjects are closely cropped as in an extreme
close-up and painted very quickly, usually within a single four
hour painting session.
Artist Statement:forpressrelease.jpg)
I never wanted to be anything other than an oil painter.
My beginnings were humble. I was born in 1959 in Carroll, Iowa. I grew up on a small farm, enjoying the simple life out in the country. My love and passion for painting began as a small child; often I would look at books for hours from the Renaissance period, particularly Rembrandt, and wish that I could somehow paint with the veracity of the painters that I admired. My desire to paint grew as I approached adolescence.
My first year out of high school, I began college at the University of South Dakota with a small Art Scholarship, hoping to achieve many things in my life in relationship to painting. I was told by many of my instructors that my quick, spontaneous work was often better than pieces that I spent hours finalizing. This would come back to serve me in my later years, and is well expressed in the work you see here today.
Although much of my current time is spent painting, my painting was put on hold for a number of years. As a full time mother of three, taking care of my children and working with my husband to maintain a small family business often took precedent over my desire to pursue art. But - I never lost my love or my goals about one day pursuing my painting. In 2003, at age 43, I decided to go back and earn my Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree. I finished in 2005 from the California College of Arts, graduating with distinction. My decision then was never to put down my brush again - at least not until I could no longer paint. In this show, you will view the last year of my work at CCA. My inspiration came from many places.
First and foremost, I wanted to paint what I was connected to. So I chose people that I knew. Many of them are very close to me.
Second, I would not only paint people I knew, but would try and capture moments when they were not always at their best. These moments, captured on canvas, are intended to speak to you, the viewer. In a way, they are a short story. They narrate a moment in time of the portaitee. I attempt to recreate their personality with paint, to express their layers with color and texture. It is important to me to honestly portray how each person “wears their skin”. Doing this I aim to convey my connection with them as best as I can with paint, vitality and vigor.
Third, I would paint large. I always knew that I was too fussy when it came to my work. So I would not detail every line, I would not blend edges, I would not agonize if they were not “perfect” paintings.
Fourth, I would paint fast. Most of the works you see here today were done in 4 - 6 hours, completed in the same day --- a painting frenzy of some sorts. Once I stopped painting, I would not go back and “fix” the work. Details would not be enhanced, colors and tones would not be altered. The paintings were the product of a number of hours. Their creation became their existence. Authenticity supersedes superficial “enhancements”.
These portraits gave me the courage to paint in a way that I was unable to do before. If there is anything that is fulfilling about painting for me, it is the freedom to do so without preconceived boundaries surrounding the creative process. They are a gift to me, and have helped me understand creativity, “direction,” and expression in a new and illuminating light.
To learn more about Marilyn, visit her web site
at: http://pellouchoudfineart.com
Attached Image by Marilyn Pellouchoud, "Mom"