Painter Amber Blazina, working from her home in the outskirts of Bozeman, Montana, returns to the artworld after a three-year hiatus. During this time, she reexamined her style; experimented with brushstroke, color and her wildlife subject matter; and is gearing up for her solo show, Interregnum, at Gallery Wild in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
Lamar in Summer, oil on linen, 20 x 24 in.
Blazina says that she’s chosen this particular show title (meaning interval or pause) for two reasons: “[One], I feel like I’m coming out of a deep pause in my life and work, and I’m excited to show what the last three years of experimentation has led me. It is a returning to my roots of why I got started in painting nine years ago; the inspiration of Russian impressionism and abstract expressionism—bold and structural brushstrokes, and a distinct focus on layout. [And two], “I love to paint animals as they’re moving, catching their most beautiful and telling mannerisms, much like pausing a movie at just the right moment.”
As a self-proclaimed “recovering perfectionist,” Blazina has become more detailed in her work, with less attention on minutiae. “I am focusing on letting the freshness of the first brushstrokes and initial color to tell the story and convey the energy of the painting,” she says.
Blazina adds that she’s in the process of painting a few large-scale paintings, utilizing oversized brushes “to create giant swaths of color, splatters and drips to [deliver] the energy and drama of the scene,” she says.
Wary Observer, oil on linen, 20 x 16 in.
In show highlights like Rooster, created from photo reference while pheasant hunting, and Lamar in the Summer, from Yellowstone National Park, we see Blazina’s deliberate brushstroke at play. For Lamar, depicting bison grazing, the artist also incorporates bold color, as seen in the deep blue mountain in the background and the green of the foreground’s foliage.
For her rabbit painting Wary Observer, inspired by Blazina’s time on a farm in eastern Montana, there’s a moment of stillness just before action.
The show at Gallery Wild, opening on May 23 with a reception from 5 to 8 p.m., will display 10 new paintings. The show will close on May 31. —
Gallery Wild 80 W. Broadway Avenue » Jackson Hole, WY 83001 » (307) 203-2322 » www.gallerywild.com
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