For the month of March, the Piermont Library presents Meryl Toan: Oil Paintings. We hope you enjoy this collection. The paintings are available for purchase from the artist and a portion of all proceeds is donated to support the library. Artist of the Month (piermontlibrary.org)
From the artist…..
All these paintings are in oil, and have to do with patterns, especially in nature.
Painting nature in the open air is very difficult, especially on a large canvas. I could do my sketches outdoors but once inside, I couldn’t call to mind all the colors, shapes and shadows seen on the spot. I had to use other means to create the feeling I was looking for. I am interested in the effect of many small areas of color upon each other, each small area is a natural form, the tiny details making up the whole. Also the weather and seasons have their own particular pattern. The Piermont Marsh features in many of the earlier works, with its golden backdrop.
The birds are a way to interject whatever color is called for, and their shape and position of the wings create movement within the canvas. I put them everywhere, in particular Blue Jays with their three shades of blue: cobalt, cerulean and Prussian!
After a while, the direction of the work turned more decorative and less representational. The negative space was absorbed into the design. From a distance these pieces may read as an abstract rectangle. I like that basic shape to instill simplicity despite all the detail that is going on within the canvas.
The one exception to this are the paintings of trees, which are a stand of sycamores that grow outside my house. Sycamore trees have a marvelous bark that sheds unevenly creating an array of patterns and colors.
Anyone interested in seeing my work in person, please email me at meryltoan@gmail.com. I would be happy to meet with you.