Today we’d like to introduce you to Darcie Book.
Darcie, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
As a child I moved an average of once per year, and grew up in several different states across the country – Maryland, California, Colorado, and Texas. I believe the regularity of being in new surroundings helped shape me into an explorer. I learned to be most at ease while expanding my knowledge base and having new experiences. I can’t stand the feeling of stagnation, and this has significantly influenced my artistic practice. Each time I work in the studio, I challenge myself to learn something new, and to learn by doing. I regularly develop new processes and these processes determine the underlying meaning of my work.
My most recent move was last summer when I relocated from Baltimore to Austin. I have enjoyed a warm welcome from the Austin art community and I have lots of exciting projects in the works. I was invited to join ICOSA, an artist-run non-profit cooperative gallery founded in 2015 that showcases a diverse range of contemporary art and programming. I’m honored to be one of ICOSA’s newest members and I’m excited about our gallery’s new location at Canopy here in Austin. I’m also working on a huge installation for Facebook’s Austin office as part of the FB AIR Program. The installation will be complete in early September. In the meantime, you can view process shots on my Instagram account. I’m thrilled to be in a new city with friendly people, warm weather, and lots of great hiking & swimming spots!
We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do you do and why and what do you hope others will take away from your work?
I view my studio as a laboratory where I develop innovative processes to explore paint as a sculptural material. My sculptural paintings push the boundaries and possibilities of painting by navigating the realms between the two- and three-dimensional. Paint protrudes off surfaces, appearing to ooze or flow as it makes its departure from the two-dimensional picture plane. While my work embodies a sense of the otherworldly, I am interested in how the heightened physicality of the paint may generate corporeal resonance, and elicit desire or longing.
My process usually involves pouring acrylic paint onto plastic sheeting. I work with a high level of precision in my pouring techniques while simultaneously being open to the unexpected. After the pooled paint dries, I peel it off the plastic sheeting, and use it as a skin or fabric-like sculptural material. This is probably the most satisfying part of my process – peeling then sculpting this material I’ve created, a material that somehow always feels newly discovered and fresh.
My explorations of sculptural painting began as wall-based works and have naturally evolved to include large scale installations. These installations strike a dialogue between hyperphysical paint forms and expanses of gold leaf in which I am painting with light and fields of reflected color. There exists a deliberate intersection between the ethereal and fugitive medium of light and the materially tethered nature of paint. My goal is to create experiences that enhance the viewer’s awareness of being physically present while also feeling fully connected to the world around them.
What do you think it takes to be successful as an artist?
I am fundamentally successful as long as I remain true to my artistic vision. I often feel driven to make work I don’t fully understand until its completion. This makes for an exciting process, but sometimes I feel this fear about having no idea why I’m making something. I always set this fear aside and move through the process to physically manifest what I’ve envisioned. Then the artwork’s purpose and meaning become clear. In one sense, success is the act of creation without fear. I feel I’ve reached another level of success each time someone engages with my work. When my art sparks conversation or provokes a sense of joy or wonder, I am truly satisfied.
Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
I currently have some work in ICOSA’s new members exhibition “Are You Doing Your Part / In Your Life?” curated by Sean Redmond of fields magazine, on view until August 25th. More information including gallery hours can be found on our website (www.icosacollective.com).
Most artwork available for purchase can be viewed on my website. I am also happy to make commissioned work for both residential and corporate settings. I send newsletters every 1-2 months with updates about upcoming exhibitions, studio sales, and new work. Please contact me directly via email (darciebook@gmail.com) or through my website (www.darciebook.com) with inquiries or to join my mailing list.
Contact Info:
- Address: Austin, TX
- Website: www.darciebook.com
- Email: darciebook@gmail.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/darcie.book/
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/darcie.book
Image Credit:
Darcie Book
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