Oil painting has been a source of creative fulfillment for me for many years, and my formal studies have been complemented by encounters with inspiration prized by every artist.  For instance, living in other countries---England, Denmark and the Sudan---I was able to explore diverse cultures and art forms and to study their techniques. Arriving back in Tucson, I rediscovered the Southwest---its culture, vibrancy, unique landscape and style ---and explored a fascination with rock art that began when I first encountered petroglyphs in Sudan.

Petroglyphs are images recorded on stone by prehistoric cultures. The word originates from the Greek "petros" meaning stone, and "glyphein" meaning to carve.

Rock art provided ancient peoples with avenues of communication that embodied deep cultural and religious significance. While the symbolism may be open to interpretation, it's evident that rock art was  intended to tell a story.

To recreate the awe inspiring experience of viewing ancient rock art, I mix oil paints with Sonoran desert sand to give the painting the patina of “desert varnish”, the combination of dust and microbes that adheres to the rock surface, and apply this medium to gallery wrapped canvas. The result is a unique and richly textured, dimensional painting, a blend of art and artifact that communicates simplicity and harmony.

I also enjoy painting Sonoran Desert flowers and plants, although these subjects aren't so different. It's human nature to look for parallels between seemingly different things, and nowhere is this more evident than in art. As an example, look at Red Chiles and Nomadic Hunters.

Both are subjects popular in Southwestern art, but notice also the similarity in the shapes. This was not intentional. It was simply the mind's natural tendency, out of preference for harmony, to see similarities as well as differences between things.

It's in this way that art helps to harmonize our interior spaces, whether a painting is appreciated for its own sake, as a work of creative expression, or for the visual interest it brings to a room through its subject and colors, shapes and textures.

Commission a Painting for Your Home or Office

Private commissions are welcome! I paint with Arizona and Southwestern decor in mind and enjoy the collaborative process. Before moving to Tucson, I worked with interior designers in the San Francisco area to create unique pieces of art to complement decors for both residential and commercial design projects.

If you would like to discuss commissioning an original painting, please send a message or call me at (520) 237-2822.

Warm Regards,
Maureen Connell