Photograph by Terri Glanger
Presence or absence of light representing the ephemeral passage of time is a continued source of exploration. Transient sunlight, cycles of nature, the structure and texture of natural surroundings inform my work conceptually. I often combine earth pigments with oil paint or ink to develop unique hues for layered surfaces for paintings and printmaking. My three-dimensional work in resin, steel and light wood is influenced by contemporary Japanese architecture, form emphasizing open space, human scale, and translucency of materials.
Working in various mediums provides both a physical and emotional sense of exploration and discovery. I believe art has the power to bridge differences and express connections, however fragile, in ways we are connected universally.
Joan Winter
Joan Winter works in a range of mediums to explore the fleeting nature of light as it affects color, atmosphere, and form. In the current social climate of chaos and frequent crisis, she invites the viewer to engage in moments of calm and serenity. She encourages the viewer to think about “how we see” and challenges the tension between seeing and perception. Working in painting, printmaking, and sculpture, Winter reinterprets observations of natural surroundings and landscape to reveal the illusion of changing light over time. She makes intaglio etchings on copper plates and screenprints, often printed on handmade paper from Nepal or Japan. Her process to create abstract paintings on linen includes multiple layers of transparent oil paint to fuse color and texture. Winter uses the band saw as a drawing tool and beginning point for sculpture. Her materials include light natural woods, cast resin, and steel. She makes ethereal forms emphasizing light as a primary element. Winter’s work is both immediate and timeless.
Winter worked in architecture for ten years before receiving her MFA from SMU. She studied art and architecture at Texas Tech University. Her solo exhibitions from the mid 1990’s - 2020 include galleries in New York, Chicago, Santa Fe, Houston, Marfa, San Antonio, Austin and Dallas. Her work is in the Museum of Fine Arts Houston, the Tyler Museum of Art and in numerous collections, both private and public, in the US and UK. She has also been included in exhibitions in Awaji, Japan and Arequipa, Peru. Winter’s work is included in book publications: Texas Abstract: Modern/Contemporary and Flatbed Press at 25 Years and 2020 catalogues, COLOR + LIGHT and COLOR + LIGHT, Prints.