Bernice Koff

As a process-oriented painter, I become intrigued with new materials and tools. I use acrylic inks for their dramatic colors, handmade papers and digitally printed photos as both supports and collage elements. Squeegees, toothbrushes and palette knives are as likely to move my paint across the surface as are paintbrushes. I often apply paint first and draw second; as I see images emerge on the surface, I bring them to life using the appropriate tools. These images come from my imagination, but are often rooted in the vast files of photos I take, whether of flowers in my garden or more unique sights seen while traveling. I may use the photo itself as a collage element in the painting or merely refer to it during the painting process.

While fascinated by the human form, the people in my paintings are not those one meets in daily life; they are actors, geishas, clowns, women and men hiding behind masks and fans, often revealing in their eyes or mouths the emotions behind their painted beauty. I am drawn to theatre, revealing my New York upbringing, to art history, reflecting an education as an art museum docent, and to the joy I find in travel. While I love nature's beauty, colorful fish, butterflies, and flowers, I more often respond to things manmade: floral arrangements, art objects, wine bottles, and cityscapes.

My other, and strongest influences, are literature and language, my first passions and college majors. Images from Shakespeare, phrases in English, French and Italian, and references to the world of art are the subject of many of my paintings; these references may be recognizable to the viewer or simply part of the subtle emotional content of the work. While striving to make art that is original and creative, I still consider myself a traditional artist, working on a two-dimensional surface; this is, after all, the time-honored goal of the painter.

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