An Orchid Dreaming

Alyssa Krause's new series of paintings invites viewers into a vibrant interplay of familiarity and abstraction. Each piece stems from images that intrigue her—strange, multi-layered compositions that capture the relationships between objects, forms, and ideas. Krause approaches these images with a delicate touch, ensuring that she remains an active participant in the creative process without becoming overly attached to the original source.

Before she begins, Krause establishes guidelines—a roadmap of sorts—that dictate her movements on the canvas. These rules can shift as the painting unfolds, allowing for a dynamic decision-making process that balances control and spontaneity. She employs variations in brush handling and material usage to create a distinction between the painted image and the image itself, maintaining outlines and forms as signifiers of her inspiration.

Krause revels in the physicality of paint, manipulating its application to create a rich layering of colors and opacities. This layering process introduces an element of surprise, as the unpredictable nature of the material reveals new possibilities. By harnessing color as a signifier, she creates a visual dialogue that resonates with the viewer, inviting them to navigate the close proximity of described and undescribed visual cues. In this way, Krause's work fosters a sense of recognition and familiarity, encouraging exploration within the lush landscapes she constructs.