Meredith S. Kopelman

My reality is shaped by feelings and interactions that generate my own everyday experiences. I’m also interested in memory, which often results in a lack of focus and a dispersed focus rather than adding up to one cohesive whole. Meaning is found on the surface and the every day. Representing a compelling scene is about exploring it through symbolic, atmospheric and photographic elements. My perception of life is about being present in the world and embracing life in its entirety. I genuinely see the world as an interesting place!

A chance encounter with an unusual woman with brightly colored cotton candy can become the humorous subject of one of my personal narratives. Or as I’m sitting in my living room with my sketchpad, I wiggle my toes in my Vibram running shoes. It’s funny how my toes relate to the other objects in the room that seem to be constantly shifting back and forth in space. This too can become a subject of my painting. It’s all about human perception and the subjectivity of the human experience. Moments shift into memories with direct brushstrokes. Then, memories shift through indirect blurring of merging and transparent forms. Memories can be crisp or fading.

My paintings focus on mystery, playfulness and humor woven together to create personal storytelling. Artists such as Nicole Eisenman, Natalie Frank, and Alice Neel have inspired my work. Eisenman’s works are playful, incorporating different styles to express her narratives. Frank’s work engages themes of feminism, identity, narrative playfulness, and figurative distortion. Neel’s use of color and directness convey the emotional life of her subjects.