Artist Statement

To create a striking image is to deliver a punch. My artistic research is simply a curiosity of how I should swing. In creating an environment of total darkness, a vacuum of space occurs. The scene exists in a snapshot of a moment, enveloped in this vacuum of intensity. Thematically, my work is not gothic in a religious sense, but is rather a modern take on the gothic visuals of the old masters. These elements are captivating – dramatic facial expressions, body position, the duality of light and shadow – and when utilized to their fullest potential, the piece flows like a directed stage.

I am a painter, working primarily in oil paints. My work is a continuous study of how I can manipulate light, shadow, and color to intensify the emotional output of an image. I have taken heavy influence from Caravaggio, Rubens, and Sargent, all of whom are exceptional at the chiaroscuro technique, dramatizing the character, and increasing the theatrics of a scene.

Bio

Patricia Jurkowski is a painter living and practicing in Providence, Rhode Island. She received her BA in Studio Art from Salve Regina University in Newport, RI, graduating in early 2023. Jurkowski has been exhibiting her work at various locations through Rhode Island, most recently at Wickford Art Association in Wickford, RI, and at the HeARTspot Art Center in East Providence, RI. She currently works as a paint and sip instructor in Foxborough, MA.