Log in

Gateway to the Arts

February and March

Four Visions of Abstraction

Artist Statement

Painting abstract works is an avenue of expression through a lens of adventure and discovery. Creating pieces from unprescribed images allows us a large horizon of freedom, working perhaps with the subconscious, or an unrecognized inner sense. It is a conversation that happens while using our intuition, or feel, with a sense of aesthetics. Pieces may be inspired by memories, social events, or simply emotion. It is important to have the painting express an essence which cannot be expressed textually or verbally.

We all agree that our individual processes are spiritual or meditative in nature, connecting to and revealing our true selves, resulting in rejuvenation and joy. The process is as important as the result.

The methodology of each painter varies, some experimenting with different types of media or tools: cold wax and pallet knife, or, using different techniques such as throwing or dripping paint or using tape. Some of us will work on more than one painting at a time.

We all benefit from being in classes with one another: the feedback and comradery benefit the artist and resulting painting.

Our backgrounds are diverse: an accountant, an educator, an engineer, and a horticulturist.

Our work leads us to being open to change and challenge in life, and we hope our work will resonate with you, the viewer.

Artist Bios:

Kari Djuve is a local artist whose vivid imagination guides her colorful, abstract oil paintings. A Pennsylvania native, her educational background includes a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Connecticut College and a degree in Drawing and Printmaking from the Oregon College of Art and Craft. Kari has been a resident of Columbus since 2007 and is a long-time student at the Columbus Cultural Arts Center. She balances her home studio practice with parenting two young children and working as a PK-8 art teacher.

Dana Grubbe is known for her contemporary abstracts. Her work vibrates with color, texture, and metal leaf. She also teaches art workshops at 400 West Rich, where her studio is located. Dana has a work in the permanent collection of the Santa Fe Museum of Encaustic Art and in the Bexley Public Library Collection of Circulating Artwork. She is represented by Hayley Gallery in New Albany. Born in Pennsylvania, Dana has been an Ohio resident for most of her life. Before retiring and studying art at both the Columbus College of Art & Design and The Ohio State University, Dana was a software engineer.

Patricia Sandilands was born in Illinois, and her earliest art memories are of trips to the Chicago Museum of Art with her mother. Formal art classes began in high school and continued at The Ohio State University. It was there that she realized how important it is to be part of an artist community. Adventurous in her paint application techniques, Patricia is inspired by color that draws her to paint. As her painting skills have increased, she has ventured into larger sized canvases. Her paintings, normally in acrylic, express her inner self; shapes and color developing as the painting progresses.

Karen Torvik’s working-life career was as a horticulturalist, and a gardening supervisor of large landscapes. Through that work she deepened her learning of design principles: balance, unity, repetition, contrast and focus points, while initiating and maintaining outdoor spaces. An Ohio native, Karen has taken many art classes with various organizations; most have been through the Columbus Cultural Arts Center. She chooses to create non-conventional works in oil, evoking a feeling or mood that seems to be an inner emotional response. Her process is intuitive and spiritual.