C l a u d i a F u r l o w, P a i n t e r
Statement and Biography
My work amplifies eclectic, incidental moments. My narrative frequently uses binary models of attraction/repulsion and beauty/ugliness. Simple moments in time become epic life events, magnified in macro view. I seek to replicate beauty in the traditional sense as well as to present a narrative of fleeting time in the form of images depicting disintegration and decay.
The current work examines the neglected exterior of my home oil tank and serves as a nod to my father, born in 1917. The peeling, twisted paint of the tank’s surface shows the passage of time in the absence of his stewardship. His obsession with the duty of home maintenance went to extremes. I remember him, even in his 80s, walking around on the roof to inspect a repair made against the rain.
I am primarily an oil painter working representationally in both direct and Renaissance techniques using my own photography as the source of my images. Grisaille and glazing methods allow me to create images faithful to color and form. I use traditional oils, linseed oil/solvent glazes and occasionally incorporate heavier-body gels into my paint.
Born in Arlington, Virginia, I live in the wilds of Page County, Virginia. I earned my M.F.A. in painting from Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, Georgia, and have taught at Georgia Southern University and Savannah State University. Currently, I am Adjunct Professor of Art at Blue Ridge Community College.
Contact: claudia.furlow@gmail.com