Artist Statement

In my lifetime, the perception of woman, opportunities for women, and their roles in society have changed more perhaps than during any period in history. “Women’s Liberation” was meant to erase limitations imposed by traditional gender expectations and roles. The goal was not to eliminate femininity, nor equate it with masculinity. Rather, it was to guarantee women the freedom to express personal, social, career and other aspects of individual difference and desire.  I am deeply compelled to render my belief that today’s woman can be independent, strong and ambitious, yet still be beautiful and comfortable in her own skin —attractive in her softness, symmetry and vulnerability.

My work follows in the artistic tradition examining the relationship between light and the figure in both natural and contrived settings.  Light is essential to describing human form and posture.  (I have a long-standing embarrassment at my fascination with the way falling light captures and reveals the structure underlying human joints.) My education in psychology further influences the design and expression of specific pieces. Manipulation of characteristics of light facilitates the viewer’s perception of information about relationships, distance and orientation that is critical to understanding representational artwork. In depicting women, I am thoroughly engaged in layering tone or color to recreate the texture, warmth and transparency that evoke the look and feel of human flesh. The interplay of light, paint, and posture serves to create genuine “expression” which, in turn, powerfully enables  comprehension and interpretation of personality, intent, emotion and narrative.

Martha Gonter Gaustad