Interview with Stephanie Weber
Artist Stephanie Weber is one of a very group of artists that have decided to use a canvas other than paper or cotton. Instead, she paints atop aluminum, giving her artwork a startling life and adds depth to the already playful and intricate paintings. You can view her site at Stephanie Weber Art
How long have you been painting? What influenced you to become an artist?
I have been painting since early childhood. My father was a musician, my grandmother an actress. I had a family interested in self-expression, it seemed a naturally thing to do. I was often taken to museums in Los Angeles as a very young child.
Many special museum shows effected me deeply as a young child. Self-expression through making things came to me naturally. I was always drawn to it.
Why did you decide to use aluminum as your canvas
When I was invited to the Tamarind Institute to make lithographs with a master printer, I fell in love with the aluminum plates themselves. I loved the sheen gleaming through the ink, and spent a good year figuring out how I could use this in my own work. Eventually I found a way and it has been a very satisfying exploration.
You use very bold colors in many of your paintings, is this to complement the aluminum or do you tend to focus more on the painting than the canvas?
What are some recurring themes that you've discovered in your artwork? Many titles of your artwork deal with change, intersection (Convergences, Cross Rhythm, even New Angle) Why do you think you have concentrated on these messages?
Although my work is classified as abstraction--to me the process feels like the reverse. I am taking something abstract, thoughts, ideas, and giving them a body--making them real, and palpable.
I work in series because when I have an idea that's rich and meaningful, I like to see how it develops through a number of paintings.
What do you find most challenging about painting on aluminum? Most fulfilling?
It was challenging to find the best way to work on the aluminum and the best type of aluminum panel. I came upon honeycomb and it worked well for my purposes.
It's exciting to work on a material that's structural and technological, and to come to it in a very painterly way. I somehow am able to pull the best out of myself when I have a challenge.
Where can we find some permanent exhibits of your artwork? Any books where your art is featured?
I show in a number of galleries around the country, and am in a number of museum collection. I am currently having a show at Gilman Contemporary--. I also show locally at Toomey Tourell Gallery in San Francisco.
Anything else you'd like to add?
Although abstract and modernist, my work is really about the stuff of life. I've always wanted the work to reflect my sense of a pulsing and vital world--a rich sense of life.