Artist Statement
A lot of my work has to do with an abstract or compositional study of pattern, line and color. My Urban Graphic series is a graphic approach to street photography. I use my camera to collect specimens of urban life that express moments of clarity within a visually chaotic scene. For me they are visual Haiku; distilled images that cut through the clutter and noise.
The best photographs for me uncover secret worlds under the surface. They reveal history, evoke emotion or express themes of duality as visual dichotomies...They bring out the powerful and fragile, innocent and seductive, fleeting and enduring, etc... I choose to work with photographs because they make people see things that animation can’t reveal. Still images have basis in reality, but being suspended in time and space, they invite inquiry and become testaments of beauty and mystery. A well crafted photograph makes connection available to us in a single-frame that we can gaze into.
I choose to work with photographs because they make people see in ways that real time can’t reveal. They have basis in reality, but because they are pulled out of time, space and sometimes context, they are powerful testaments to impermanence and mystery. A well crafted photograph makes authentic connection available to us in a single-frame that we can gaze into.
Bio
In 1983, I graduated from the University of Washington with a degree in Int’l Studies. It was then that I picked up photography and traveled to North Africa as a traineeship exchange student. My travels have continued over the years along with my photography work which crossed over from film to digital in '06.
Currently I am based in the Pacific Northwest where I live on a small farm with my family and travel, with camera, at every opportunity. I work in my portrait/fine art studio, experimenting with digital transfers to different materials such as wood, metal and tile. I am always happy to welcome visitors to my studio where I will be demonstrating the transfer process during the Art in the Woods Studio Tour. My work can also be viewed at the Indie Gallery in Poulsbo, Washington
Clients
Recommendations:
“Everyone who has seen the photos is blown away. I loved Randy's comment; that the kids looked so in synch with each other. That is exactly what I was hoping to capture, and you nailed it. I couldn't be more thrilled with the pictures. They are even better than I was hoping for. My problem is they're all so ridiculously good that I haven't been able to narrow it down! “ (Ellen Ross-Cardoso, December 17, 2011)
“If we could check every box, we would! Zebra Partners will continue to use Paula's creative services. You will not find anyone with a better eye, a greater love for the art and finer detail in her work and results. We use her photography every day for business and for our clients.” (Perrin Kaplan-Zenk, September 30, 2010)
Zebra Partners, LLC- Seattle
Sapphire Energy- San Diego
Barker Creek Publishing- Silverdale, WA
Exhibitions
Eleven Winery Tasting Rooms- Solo Exhibition of photographs from Italy and Switzerland transferred to baltic birch panels. 1/2012-3/2012
The Indie Gallery, a local artist collective in Poulsbo, Washington. 6/11-present.
Front Street Gallery, a local artist co-op in Poulsbo, Washington. 12/10-4/11
Art Addiction Gallery Juried Online Art Exhibition featuring 12 images from my Urban Abstract Collection including an award winning photograph. 3/10-3/12
Manhattan Arts International Juried Online Exhibition "Celebrate Her Story". 6/09-9/09
Upstream People Gallery "11th Annual All Media Int'l Art Exhibition" & "Color: Bold/Subtle Int'l Art Exhibit". 2 of 8 photos were given special juror's recognition for originality of concept and technical artistic achievement. 1/09-12/09
Kitsap Arts and Crafts Annual Festival Juried Best in Photography Award. 7/24/09-7/27/09
The Attic holds The Fuschia Tree's First International Art Exhibition, "Mint Green" featuring the work of 28 artists, New Delhi. 9/24/08-10/8/08
Hida Northwest Traders Studio Open House Exhibit featuring photos from Mexico. 7/19/08-08/19/08
Michigan Friends of Photography Traveling Art Exhibition Juried by Joel Sternfeld. 4/2/95-2/28/96
Photo Galerie Bild of Aarau, Switzerland "Tableaux Botaniques" featuring a collection of solarized seashells and hand colored flowers. 10/11/92-11/1/92