Santa Fe Artworld Featured Artist

Featured Artist: Virginia Erdie
I do art partly for my own therapy. My unconscious mind is insisting that I try to capture that which cannot be interpreted by the brain onto wood or canvas...this can be very frustrating. Each piece starts out with a frantic little sketch that is burned into my mind's view (the third eye).

For all the art that I do, I cannot say that much of it has been done with a preconceived notion. I do not trust my brain to make wise decisions - only my mind...the unconscious. My brain makes me say the wrong things, make the wrong decisions and leads me to the wrong ideas. My mind (as in all humans) is connected to something greater and more intelligent and, if I can free myself from all the silly rules made by humans over the mega-centuries, then I can create honest art that does not cater to the superficial ideas from my brain.

I think the unconscious mind and the brain are much like oil and water - existing simultaneously but in complete opposition.

I struggle to understand that which cannot be understood.

This surreal oil painting uses elegant colors while making a bold statement. The somewhat whimsical characters in the background may distract you momentarily from the comical main character sitting in the middle of the road. Inspired by her original monotype which was sold in the 1980's, Virginia Erdie felt it necessary to revisit that monotype, only on a much larger and more colorful scale.

This oil painting on wood is a large, abstract low-relief painting. The title was given after the artist created Organicity1, 2, and 3. All paintings are inspired by the fractal existence of nature. Virginia Erdie applied molding paste to the surface and sculpted it with special tools, creating a very dreamlike painting where organic vines and creatures reside in a colorful grid of bright pinks, purples, oranges and greens. The texture is tantalizing, begging to be touched. The surface is shiny and exciting.

Virginia Erdie is an abstract painter who resides in South Florida, after studying at The Maryland Institute, College of Art and The School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

Currently Showing at the Miami Design District at CityLoftArt LLC (European Art Gallery)
http://www.cityloftart.com/183-virginia-erdie/art/virginiaerdie.html
VIEW VIRGINIA'S WORK