TANYA FLETCHER
P R O F I L E
tfletcher@gwi.net
207.284.2007
ARTIST STATEMENT
Tanya Fletcher is mainly (if not solely) a figurative artist.
She has been sculpting, drawing, animating and painting the figure
for most of her artistic career/pursuits. Her current body of
work consists of larger than life-size human forms rendered in
oil on panel. The pieces are reductively painted. An even layer
of oil color is applied and then selectively removed with a cloth.
Images are "stripped down" to their bare essence. Tanya
prefers to focus solely on a feature or area of the model that
she finds particularly compelling. This results in simplified
compositions where lips, a hand, neckline etc are the core interest.
Despite the fragmentation of the figures, formal abstraction is
avoided. The artist favors a more visceral aesthetic, while still
maintaining an ambiguity of context. The figures take on a psychological,
theatrical and/or surreal presence. In most cases, the models
are gender neutral, while still exuding an underlying sexuality.
The anatomy/composition, such as the position of the hands, or
musculature of the body, suggests a subtle tautness and drama.
The actual painting process conveys a photographic-like realism
and sculpture-like form. This is predominantly due to the brush-free
surface. The revealed wood grain of the oak or birch panels in
some works also contribute dramatically to the sculptural contours
of the figure. The eyes of most of the figures are cropped. This
directs attention to key expressive features, such as hands,lips,
overall pose etc. This also creates a voyeuristic-like experience,
allowing the viewer to look without the figure looking back. However,
the paintings are somewhat confrontational, due to their size
and the fact that most of the figures are facing forward.
BIOGRAPHY
Tanya Fletcher earned her BFA at the Carnegie Mellon University
in Pittsburgh, PA. She has also studied in London and Florence
through the Syracuse Universities Division of International Programs
Abroad. She continues her studies by attending workshops and classes
through the Maine College of Art Continuing Studies Program and
Sanctuary Arts studios.
The artist is affiliated with the Barn Gallery in Ogunquit, Maine.
Tanya has exhibited throughout New England. Her work has been
featured at Filament Gallery in Portland, ME, River Tree Center
for the Arts in Kennebunk, ME, Lincoln Levy Gallery in Portsmouth,
NH and Hooloomooloo Gallery, Newberry Street, Boston, MA. to name
a few. She has created permanent murals at the Sea Road School
in Kennebunk, ME, the Children's Museum in Portsmouth, NH and
Madame Tussauds Wax Museum, Las Vegas.