AM Stockhill

 

“Texture is a critical element of my work. In working with multiple layers of media, I am attempting to portray the passage of time. In this age of technology, it is easy to forget our roots and the simplicity of knowing that where we began has a place in who we are. It is for that reason that I try to express spirit and emotion, rather than the horse itself.”

These are the words of AM Stockhill and how she explains the reason and symbolism behind her beautifully flawless paintings. She specializes in very textured paintings and warm earthy colors. She also talks about how many of her paintings require twenty to thirty individual glazes of pigment in order to obtain the luminosity and emotional impact that she wants. And that by using so many thin layers of paint it allows the painting to glow from within and create a sense of depth that draws the eye.

I couldn’t agree with her more! When I saw her art for the first time in person I was blown away by her talent and the amazing ability she has with a paint brush. Her art has definitely inspired me to become a widely known artist myself.  In a resent utube video I watched about her she talks about how her career started. She had never picked up a paint brush till she started school at the University of Montana. AM Stockhill’s first intensions were to do photograph but found her talent instead with painting using acrylics. From there her art career took off and she started trying new techniques.

One technique I found interesting was the way she used book pages as the background to her paintings.  She discovered the books when she visited a book store after they had just received a donation of old books. She noticed a stack of books off to the side with damaged covers and bindings. She then asked what they planned to do with them. When they told her they were going to be thrown away she decided to salvage them. Not knowing what to do with them at first the old books sat in her studio for a good six months before the idea of incorporating them into her paintings pop into her head. After Stockhill’s canvas were stretched and sealed, she then applied the old book pages using acrylic medium to bind the pages to the canvas. Stockhill uses books that are at least eight to one hundred years old with missing pages or damaged bindings that no long have their intrinsic value. She prefers them to have a western theme to compliment the horses and other animals that she paints. Stockhill feels that by doing this she is rescuing pieces of history by incorporating it into her paintings.

Below I have AM Stockhill's websit home page and a great utube video of her explaining her art. I really enjoyed it and you will too! :) 

http://www.amstockhill.com/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4bmCQCnMIY&noredirect=1