Brenda Mangalore

2020

Following Truth
 
acrylic 80x80cm
Soul Seed I (Soul Seed Series)
 
acrylic 40x50cm
Soul Seed II (Soul Seed Series)
 
acrylic 60x60cm
Reflections From You
 
acrylic 58x66cm
click on artwork to see a larger version

About Brenda Mangalore

ARTIST BIO 

Brenda began her creative life as a graphic designer for one of the biggest greeting card companies

in the world, where she nurtured her love of colour and composition. However, 4 years into her dream

design career her inner calling to paint could not be silenced. Leaving her career behind, she had her

first solo exhibition in 2011 and boldly launched her new life as a visual artist in full colour.


Brenda's work is a dance of colour, soul & imagination. Sometimes they whisper an invitation to

explore its hidden details. Sometimes they are a chaotic story of struggle as the abstract nature

battle with organic & figurative forms. Shaped by change, experimentation & questions raised in her

musings & meditations, Brenda also credits her past life as a designer in the creative process. 


"The depth and subtlety of colours, play of pattern and detail are born from my designer instincts...

purposely designed to evoke visual & emotional reactions."


On the other hand, Brenda also depends on her intuition and the inspiration of the moment to take

over. Allowing the painting to emerge naturally, often changing course along the way. Applying

multiple layers of free flowing colour with organic shapes, patterns and symbols. A new story with

each additional layer, so the process of creation becomes another facet of the story behind Brenda's

paintings. A story that focuses on the inner landscape of both artist & viewer. Like a memory of a

dream filtered by emotions & intuition. It's secrets & history revealed only to those who pause to have

a closer look.

ARTIST STATEMENT 


I paint multi layered, abstract acrylic paintings. 

Sometimes my paintings are a whisper of colour, soul & imagination, inviting you to explore and discover hidden details.

Sometimes they are a chaotic struggle as the abstract marks & brush strokes battle for attention & discovery

My work is shaped by change, experimentation & questions raised in my daydreams and spiritual practice which involves meditations on life and our inner landscape. 

The depth and subtlety of colours, play of pattern and detail are born from my past as a designer; consciously designed to evoke visual & emotional reactions.

On the other hand, I also strive to allow intuition and the inspiration of the moment to take over.

My intuition is honed by my Christian faith and a daily practice to listen to the divine (sometimes called a prayer). Life is a dance of chaos and (attempts of) control – gifting us our unique perspectives which add a richer tapestry of experience to our inner landscape. 

This dance is reflected in my practice to allow the painting to emerge naturally, surrendering to surprising changes along the way. Like a memory of a dream filtered by emotions & intuition.

The ideas of chaos & anchors amongst the ‘mess’ is a core theme of all my works.

The mess of colours and marks that I explore with layers of acrylic paint & pen, splattered on the canvas in wild abandon! Plus intuitive movement I like to think of as a dance with the Muse.

Once the chaos has reached a tipping point, the search for anchors begins.

Layering free flowing colour with organic shapes and symbols means the process of creation is another facet of the story. A story of change and the capriciousness of life, while still seeking windows of understanding or just anchors to contain the chaos.

Compositions & the more left-brain side of my Designer past life comes back to dig through ‘the mess’. The spiral shape is the visual anchor, serving as both windows through the ‘past’ (underlying layers) as well as compositional and visual anchors.

Just as in life - to find a fulfilled life, one must find the beauty in the mess!

With my experience mourning the Matriarch of my maternal family recently, I also expanded that exploration to the motherhood experience. Where these themes are reflected alongside concepts of time and legacy, with the duality of beauty and mess. Grief and joy. Chaos and structure

The past, (represented by my grandmother), serves as an anchor as we grieve the loss while also joyfully celebrating her legacy.

With my daughters as anchors for the future as they create their stories. And I stand in the present, searching and creating the beauty amongst the chaos. Where both the container for ‘the mess’ can also be the cause of them

Simultaneously playing with and battling the chaos, while releasing & grasping for anchors. 

My love of detail can also be found hidden in my works, like the whispers from our heart or the still quiet voice of God. Reserved only for those who pause to take a closer look.

For more on Brenda Mangalore see
http://www.brendamangalore.com

Site by Lagado