ARTMIX PRESENTS

GRAY STORIES

PAINTINGS BY CAROLINE HAWKINS

ARTIST STATEMENT

I often think about the impact that one’s medical history can play a significant role in their life and incorporate this topic in my artwork. Genetic medical history has dramatically affected my family’s past and has significantly impacted my present life. It helps me anticipate my future and how my decisions will impact those around me. It has helped me become more aware of my surroundings and to be more conscious of how everyone’s differences. In my work, I use my and my family’s personal experiences with health as inspiration. I incorporate how our past experiences have affected the way memory can be used.

When beginning a piece of art, I initially research and find old photographs that I become interested in. By doing this I find the overall theme for a composition. By taking these photographs with family members, they are able to be reminded of a specific time. I am able to see how a photograph has the potential to affect your memory that for some time may have been forgotten. They help provide a way to tell old stories.

With the use of the photographs and stories, I am able to combine them to create an oil painting to visit the topic of memory. These works show both figurative realism and abstraction. Painting using impasto also helps me to suggest the form of memory, how some stand out more than others. The text incorporated with my work suggests the reminder of a specific event provided by a minor photograph. I look at past family photographs and recorded stories from family members for inspiration to create both oil paintings and sculptural work.

www.carolinegray-art.com @carolinegray_art