Diane McGregor
Artist Statement
The title of this series, Albus, comes from the Latin word for “white.” The concept for this work is Light – white light, reflected light, layered light.
I used many shades and densities of white to create these paintings, including warm whites and cool whites, iridescent and metallic pigments. Layers of white were built up over a dark grey ground of glittering hematite pigment. Ranging from thick impasto to translucent veils, each layer of paint reflects light in a distinctive way.
Various techniques and tools were used to generate complex textures. Adding paint and scraping back, concealing and revealing what lies beneath, one is reminded of the processes of erosion, weathering, accretion, and dissolution.
About a year ago, I switched from oil to acrylic paint. After more than 40 years of painting exclusively in oils, acrylics have been a revelation to my studio practice. Using water-based media instead of toxic solvents, I observed a lightness and luminosity in the work that seemed to have something to do with the mixture of water and pigments. Acrylic media fits my way of working so much better than oil paint, and I believe there is an invigorating freedom and confidence apparent in this new body of work.
Artist Bio
Diane McGregor is an abstract painter from Santa Fe, New Mexico. Her work references the relationship between the natural world and the spiritual realm. She was born in Philadelphia, and grew up in rural areas of Connecticut and New Jersey. The lakes, fields, and woodlands of her childhood provided her with a deeply emotional connection to nature from a very early age. McGregor studied Studio Art and Art History at the University of Arizona, graduating with a BFA with Honors in 1985. She has been exhibiting her work for more than three decades, and her art can be found in public and private collections throughout the United States and Europe.
