Biography

Born 1965 - Birmingham, Alabama USA
Education - B.A., Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana USA

Residing in the British Virgin Islands since 1998

Stephanie Clayton has been the recipient of many awards and distinctions. Her work is part of several national and international collections, including Tallahassee Memorial Hospital in Florida, and has been the subject of numerous periodicals.  She maintains two studios:  One on the island of Tortola, and a secondary one in the Miami, Florida area.  

Artist's Statement

The evolution of my work from representational to abstract began after I relocated to a small island.  I was entranced by the architecture, sea and light, and wanted to render fragments of my surroundings in the most simplified manner.  Image was not so important in my work; atmosphere, mood and color were.  Gradually, I shifted away from the painted image and into abstract territory.  Moving to this small island was to be a stepping-stone into pure abstraction.   

My work does not have a simple subject matter or intended message.  Recurring themes are process, loss, mystery, and beauty.  Motivation is internal and external; objects, images, colors and experiences continually inspire me.  My work is a way of coping with the uncertainties and mysteries in life.  It is an extension of myself, and my means of communicating what cannot be said in words.   

The paintings dictate to me what is needed.  I start with a basic plan and let the painting lead.  Brushes, palette knives and cloths are necessary tools, sometimes leaving indelible marks on the canvas.  Drips and runs are allowed to remain.  When layering color, I may employ an additive and reductive method, deconstructing and reconstructing the canvas surface to reveal pigment underneath.   

I experiment with a variety of abstract styles.  This experimentation is crucial to my creative process and growth.  My work is greatly influenced by color field painters and abstract expressionists.   I am intrigued by the endless visual possibilities of contrast, color, texture and space.  My use of space and interest in creating atmosphere are directly related to living by the sea. 

I seek to create art that moves the viewer beyond mere aesthetics and offers a respite from an often confusing and chaotic world.  My goal is that the work surpasses the ordinary and gives the viewer reason to pause, reflect and reconnect.