Virginia Bledsoe resides in the Washington DC area. She attended The Cleveland Institute of Art and received a BFA in painting with a minor in printmaking. In recent years she has found paper to be her preferred surface because of its versatility. Her medium includes mixed media, collage, painting and mono printing. Her work can be best described as multi-layered abstractions. A primary theme of her work is the play between organic and structural elements.
Statement
My inspiration often comes from random visual observations I’ve photographed during my walks. The urban landscape influences me. A very important aspect is the way nature consistently breaks through manufactured structures — the contrast between the chaos of natural forms and the rigid structure of man made spaces. Although my work is abstract, these visual elements form the framework of my art. I use the contrast between hard edged forms, and soft loose shapes to achieve this.
I am always working to achieve a satisfying composition. Starting by laying down areas of dark and light colors, I move to build layers to create the effect of looking deep beneath the surface. Contrast in colors is also used to create depth. Directional lines, sometimes suggested and subtle, sometimes very dominant, serve to direct the viewer’s eyes and tie the overall composition together. I also use pattern to create areas of emphasis.