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Artist Statement for Heather La Force
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Humor is the central focus of my work as I strive to express the gregarious component of my personality. The human face is a malleable structure of flesh that exhibits the capacity to contort into a myriad of emotional expressions. Exaggerating these expressions, whether they comprise fear or sheer silliness, gives them an equally hilarious quality. In painting these contorted faces, I also attempt to express a persona that contrasts with the austere nature of contemporary society, where humans are racked by anxiety and perfectionism. My current body of work consists of several large, colorful portraits of individuals with these comical facial expressions. The process originates from an internal concept which combines several influences, including the work of various artists, insights from human interactions and appreciation of fashion photography. The various strands that formulate an idea are then sewn into reality by way of digital photography.
Several artists spanning the period from the Baroque to the Contemporary era have motivated me to paint; however, Chuck Close has had the most significant influence. I discovered him early in my painting career and was impressed not only by the photorealistic quality of his earlier works, but by the size of his works as well. Painting on a large scale offers great opportunity to explore the human form and its various intricacies. Playing with color and brush mark also becomes more feasible. Additionally, a larger scale adds a dramatic element to the work that small scales lack the ability to demonstrate. Recently my work has entered a transitional state as I have begun to experiment with technique. I feel compelled to use thicker paint and have started painting with knives. I do not desire to fully eradicate the brush from the process, but rather unite the brush and knife in the execution of these works. I consider placement of color in order to create an illusion: under close observation the image is fragmented by particles of color and line, but when one steps away from the piece these fragments blend optically, forming a cohesive image.
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