Shirl had recently been awarded a scholarship to the Fine
Arts Work Center, Provincetown, MA and took part in an extensive painting workshop with Robert Henry entitled "PUT IT ON,
TAKE IT OFF, MOVE IT AROUND: The FIGURE". Her work in this workshop broke through the barriers of her complacent style of
painting.
"I feel as though I really broke all the familiar patterns that have
been haunting me the past few years. My painting has a new energy. I was able to push the envelope in regard to detaching
from 'rendering' and focusing more on 'feeling' the emotions that dictated my next move. It was so liberating to 'let go'
and PLAY again without worrying about the final outcome".
Shirl
also took part in a workshop recently, with TJ Walton, whereby the only tool allowed to be used was a pallete knife. AND
.... "gobs" of paint with linseed oil. A very freeing experience in letting go of being frugal and living like the quote
"Paint like you own the paint store". Shirl really pushed the boundaries of realism and moved more toward the abstract.
"At some point, the belief of no longer considering myself a 'renderist' , but that of an 'abstractist'
will take hold. I struggle with that all the time! I suppose you have to work at breaking old patterns."
Shirls major influences are Richard Diebenkorn, Cynthia Packard and TJ Walton.
