Sevilla Granger

Artist Statement:

Painting trees is my creative connection to ancient wisdom, my expression of grounded exuberance, my meditation. While the work is not religious, I am inspired and challenged by the spirituality of nature and the nature of spirituality. The exclusive use of trees for this exploration provides an archetypal structure, and frees my imagination to focus on the challenge of translating this ancient wisdom into graphic form.

While I have always had a profound respect and love of trees, using them as a spiritual theme in painting came into focus on Paletine Hill in Rome. Even though I have been painting my whole life, it’s only been in the last 7 years that I’ve been studying the process of transforming canvas and paint into a meditative experience. In those 7 years, that magical process has become surprisingly more difficult. The deeper I go into them, the more I see there is to represent, and ironically the greater the need for simplicity.

Painting these trees fills me with a satisfaction of integrity and presence, and has proven a formidable challenge for channeling the inner vibrant peace I see in them into the eyes and hearts of my audience. To do this, I paint from the inside out. Though I work quite deliberately, the work is best when I’m able to remove myself and let the painting evolve through and guide my hands. My unconsciously aware heart is pulling the strings, pushing the paint.

Holding my right hand is Amedeo Modigliani, guiding the insightful, figurative side of my work.  Holding my left is Franz Kline, upheaving the literal and inspiring the spontaneous drama. Above me is the eternal wisdom of the Hamadryads, informing my vision. Below me is Zen, providing ephemeral strength and weightless gravity. The result is a grounded exuberance that both calms and inspires my audience.

Born and trained in Asheville, North Carolina, Sevilla has been painting the natural world for most of her life.  With a grandmother who painted landscapes, a photographer for a Father and the daughter of Sallie Middleton as her best friend, art was omnipresent and encouraged in her formative years.

In the summer of 2003, after 15 years as a Costume Designer in the film industry, Sevilla was inspired to return to painting after an intense creative awakening on Palatine Hill in Rome. The work she makes today isn’t far from the original inspiration there, just being constantly refined and focused.

Sevilla currently lives in San Francisco, and works in the vibrant artistic community at the 1890 Bryant St. Studios.