Marlena Urban

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  • My exhibition “Local Resonance, the Natural State of Things” depicts the essence of light that is in my surroundings.

    I believe that the light gave by the sun and/or moon plays a dominant role in connecting the serenity and peacefulness that is given to us by nature. I often refer to the skies and lakes as my subject matter and how it affects the local scenes on Long Island.

    My paintings are also mainly landscapes of nature and trees. I strive to be abstractive in my works that are stylized in ways that have organic patterns that are found in leaves and branches. I live near the Long Island Sound, so I’m always inspired by the environment. I predominantly use oil paint and palette knives for my works, because they allow me to work fast and layer on paint without mixing colors on the
    substrates. The texture is another important role in my artwork. Depending on the scene in a particular painting of mine, I rely on either light washes with a brush or heavy marks with a range of palette knives. Palette knives allow me to be loose and free with the expression of my marks. I’m not hindered by precision, and I believe that the best artworks come from giving up certain control like that.

    However, I also alternate between light paint washes and heavier brushstrokes to create luminosity in my work. The title refers to the connection I have with specific scenes that are otherwise generalized to the viewer. With each subject matter, it is a capture of a moment in my life that I can remember; from the people I was with or the event that occurred. However, it is not my intention to depict the subject matter that is specific to me, but rather, I focus on the environment around me. My subject matter will focus on different times in my life with a context that is personal to me. Although the stories are unknown to the viewer based on the image, I still implement emotions through the artwork that is evident in the style and design of the subjects.

    Title: Low Branches, Date: October 2020, Dimensions: 28″ X 26″, Medium: Oil on canvas

    Title: Our Lady Queen of Martyrs, Date: November 2020, Dimensions: 24″ X 32″, Medium: Oil on canvas

    Title: The Sound, Date: November 2020, Dimensions: 30″ X 24″, Medium: Oil on canvas

    Title: Dusk, Date: November 2020, Dimensions: 36″ X 24″, Medium: Oil on canvas

    Title: Two Roads, Date: November 2020, Dimensions: 24″ X 18″, Medium: Oil on canvas