Joyce Wetherbee - Artist Statement

I started my career painting still life scenes in watercolor and in the last nine years, gradually evolved into abstract images using acrylics. Color and design are my main concerns these days. My desire is to take an object or location that interests me and make it over into something whimsical. I enjoy approaching the same subject from different angles, creating numerous paintings of a single image until I've exhausted the possibilities. Many of my paintings incorporate collage, mostly rice paper and newspaper. I enjoy hiding small phrases into these collages that may reveal how I am feeling at that particular moment in time.

My focus is on the process however, not the end result, and I eagerly allow for surprises or mistakes to take me where I hadn't intended. I rarely set out to say anything specific in my work. I prefer that the viewer take from each piece what
they find.

Working in watercolor, I received honorable mention at the Windsor-Newton National Watercolor competition. I’ve had several solo shows. My work hangs in many private collections and galleries as well as being juried into local and regional shows.