Postcards to Tomorrow

Creator

Samantha Holden, Ursinus CollegeFollow

Preview

Student Exhibition Year

2024

Description

Series of three gouache on cardstock works in envelopes depicting locations on the Ursinus College campus. Represented are the Myrin Library, the pathway to the Innovation and Discovery Center and the sculptures near the Berman Museum of Art. Presented as part of the 2024 Annual Student Exhibit in the Berman Museum of Art at Ursinus College.

Artist Statement

Art provides an outlet out of my methodical mind and into an indulgence in nostalgia. During childhood I was raised at the intersection of art and science, and the creativity of painting continues to provide an escape from my otherwise left-brained way of looking at the world. My artistic and scientific sensibilities overlap through an emphasis on close observation and problem solving. I consider how to communicate a concept through these lenses.

In this body of work, I paint objects and scenes familiar to my life and emphasize the sense of comfort they evoke through soft, often overlooked colors and textures. Color creates atmosphere and I am drawn to the shades that give me a sense of calm – blues, greens, yellows, and purples. Within my work, I enjoy enhancing colors and using contrast to emulate warmth and light. Thus, this careful consideration of color casts my subjects in compassionate hues.

I find comfort in familiarity and am gratified by seeing a friendly face – my dog, my brother, my campus – emerge from a blank canvas. For me, the act of painting lets me sit with a subject and observe; it does not freeze moments but instead continues their lives. Here, it allows me to escape from the present and spend time with the moments I miss.

Comments

Purchased for the permanent Myrin Library Student Art Collection.

Rights Statement

Copyright of the underlying work is held by the artist. The digital image presented here is for educational purposes only and is not for commercial use.

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.