The art you hang in either your home or office doesn’t have to be limited to painting or photography. It needn’t be mounted under glass or on traditional canvas to have impact, make a statement or invite discussion.
If anything, work that uses more eclectic materials and offers texture and dimension is much more likely to stand out and be noticed. It seems to eliminate the formal-feeling barrier that can exist between art and the viewer.
“For my art shows I’ve made signs that say ‘Please DO touch the artwork,’” says artist Alison Galvan. “I can see that people want to touch the work, but they hold themselves back.”
Galvan is a sculptor who creates colourful three-dimensional free-standing pieces and relief work done on a wood panel. “It does have a tactile quality. You can’t help but want to feel it,” she says.
Texture and dimension – along with gorgeous, saturated colours and a whimsical sense of humour – set Galvan’s work apart from many of the more staid, serious offerings currently on the market.
“I just love texture – the more the better,” she adds.
Her work showcases shading techniques, texture, depth and colour. It has energy and comes alive. She’s able to create movement in her sculpted pieces so they never feel static.
Galvan has always loved working in 3D and finds it a big part of the humour in her work. She also really enjoys the challenge of figuring out the logistics of just how she’s going to make something. “It gets my mental juices flowing,” she says.
Art doesn’t have to be standoff-ish. It can indeed invite the viewer in, to both get a closer look and to touch the meticulous work that has been done. In fact, it’s the perfect homage to the creator – wanting to touch the work that’s been so carefully crafted by hand.
For more information about Alison Galvan and her art, visit www.chubbyartnews.blogspot.com.