Janine Brown

Artist Statement:

I use color and limited shapes to explore the range and nuance of spaciousness. Collaged paper and  layers of acrylic paint create the depth and illumination of the surfaces.  Each time I have shifted in technique or color palette it has been due to an interest in exploring another aspect of spaciousness, luminosity and presence.  As I go too far in one direction, I am drawn back to a different approach--filling out the circle from rich color to monochrome, smooth to varied texture, spontaneity to restraint. Aiming for emptiness and fullness. Exploring how paint on a flat surface can convey liveliness, breathing room, and the energy of this moment.

I was born in San Francisco, grew up in Los Angeles and  received a degree in Art Practice from the University of California at Berkeley. I have been a working artist all of my life.  From an early age I began to wonder  “What is this life?”  “What is reality?”  This led to a life-long habit of reading widely and to study of Asian philosophies and art.   The  expansiveness and variety of  the western landscape continue to provide deep inspiration.

San Francisco Museum of Modern Art Artist’s Gallery has represented my paintings for many years. My work is also represented by Kala in Berkeley and has been shown in galleries, corporations and public spaces around the Bay Area and beyond, including a major show at the Berkeley Art Center.