Oct 23

Oct 23 Color and Composition | Joann Tomsche

Art making begins with curiosity about an idea, which leads to the exploration of contrast and line, tone and pattern. The process of moving and layering, adding and subtracting, has a meditative quality that feels timeless.

I was born in Albany, Minnesota, and raised on a dairy farm passed down through four generations. In my early 20’s, on a whim, I moved to California for the winter, and 38 years later I’m still happily here. Hard work and family are my foundation. Road trips and nature reside in my bones.

Right out of high school I studied commercial art, as that seemed practical and also creative. I enjoyed working as a graphic designer for twelve years before beginning a self directed course of study in painting and drawing.

Thinking back, I suppose my first art inspiration was my maternal grandmother's paintings. I have vivid memories of light filtering through gauzy white curtains in her bedroom where her current landscape painting was always propped on the easel, and the sharp tang of linseed oil and turpentine lingered. More than the imagery itself, the sensory memories remain and are triggered every time I encounter those scents.

I also recall my paternal grandmother’s handicrafts in the colorful, simple, patchwork quilts she hand stitched for each of us grandkids. I suppose she was the more practical grandma, as I recall lots of darned socks too. But I can still picture the quilt on my bed at the farm, and the seed of my love for pattern, fabric and design was no doubt planted there.

My own mother taught me to embroider, crochet, and sew, all handicrafts I have used in my artwork over the years. Though my approach is much looser and more unconventional than any of theirs, those female influences underlie everything I make.

More recently, my primary source of inspiration is glorious nature. My eyes are drawn to the glowing colors of dusk over a meadow, or found in a fruit bin at the farmers market. With thoughtful intention I internalize these subtlety shifting tonal palettes.

In collage work, once establishing the subject matter, I begin sifting through my extensive library of found images for the nuanced color palette that will express my concept and form. Images are incorporated or discarded as the piece evolves. I look for intriguing patterns and textures within the photos that subtly reflect the essence of the concept and include unexpected surprises.

When making a painting, I begin with reference photos I’ve taken, usually during a morning or evening walk when the light softens the tones. These snapshots are the starting point for the composition and color palette. Chosen photos will usually have several things in common: strong contrasts of shade and light, long extended shadows, and focused composition. Working in my sketchbook, I first use graphite to draw a value study in the approximate proportion I intend for the final piece. Once I’m pleased with the composition, I measure and rule a grid onto the study, then transfer the image to a gridded canvas or panel. My first layer of paint is a raw umber underpainting which echoes the values in the study. After the piece reaches a pleasing overall sensibility, I step away for a few days or a few hours. Coming back allows me to engage with fresh eyes so I’m able to discern what is needed to complete the work. I’m ultimately seeking to express my internal sense of the moment as I alter and simplify the details and colors, fine tuning the physical manifestation of my internal vision.

I find art making to be an ongoing learning process and practice. My intention is to make images that uniquely express and capture specific moods using the elements of color and composition.