Artist's Statement - Bette Blank
All contents Copyright © 2004 - 2017 Bette Blank.
Last modified: August 23, 2007
I paint to tell a story, to capture a feeling, to have you see the world through my eyes. I use pattern, color and composition to achieve my goal, in oil paint, egg tempera, watercolor, gouache, clay and wood.
I always look for humor in a situation, from the marriage of Prince Charles and Camilla to the biblical Jacob dreaming of angels riding on escalators. I often use words in paintings, both as a visual effect and as an opportunity to express additional meaning (see paintings: Sandy, Homage to Dr. Gitlin, Skirt, High Heels, Salami Sandwich))
Ordinary objects and sensations can have a transformative magic, bringing us back to a different time and place in one's life. For example, the smell of a salami sandwich in the lobby of Lincoln Center triggered a flood of seemingly forgotten memories of lunchtime in Public School 217. Everyday experiences like going to the dentist, getting a manicure, eating sushi, or visiting a shoe salon are my favorite subjects.
I have studied painting, sculpture, and print making at the following institutions: the Brookllyn Museum School of Art, the Fine Arts Work Center of Provincetown, MA, The New Jersey Center of Visual Arts, The Newark Museum's School of Art in addition to a PhD in Engineering from U.C. Berkeley.